The Trade Union, Labour and Co-operative History Society operated a collection at Limehouse Town Hall between 1975 and 1986, with the bulk of the collections in storage.
The museum moved to Manchester and re-opened in 1990 at the Grade II* listed former Mechanics' Institute at 103 Princess Street.

In 1994, the museum opened the Pump House People's History Museum containing a public gallery at the present site on Bridge Street.
The two sites were renamed the People's History Museum (PHM) in 2001.
The Bridge Street site closed for a £12.5m redevelopment in October 2007.
The redevelopment included the refurbishment of the existing Pump House and the construction of a four-storey extension alongside it.
A glass walk way was constructed to link the two buildings.
The museum reopened on 13 February 2010.

The new building houses the museum galleries, changing exhibitions, education service, Labour History Archive and Study Centre (formerly at 103 Princess Street), Textile Conservation Studio, corporate facilities, café and shop.
 The new People's History Museum has more coherent museum galleries designed to display the collection with improved interactive exhibits and interpretation.

A larger, temporary exhibition gallery allows more of the museum's own collections to be seen, as well as topical national touring exhibitions.
A dedicated community gallery provides local people with a space to display their own work while the integration of the Labour History Archive and Textile Conservation Studio allows visitors to see the museum's work.
The Trade Union, Labour and Co-operative History Society operated a collection at Limehouse Town Hall between 1975 and 1986, with the bulk of the collections in storage. The museum moved to Manchester and re-opened in 1990 at the Grade II* listed former Mechanics' Institute at 103 Princess Street.
In 1994, the museum opened the Pump House People's History Museum containing a public gallery at the present site on Bridge Street. The two sites were renamed the People's History Museum (PHM) in 2001. The Bridge Street site closed for a £12.5m redevelopment in October 2007. The redevelopment included the refurbishment of the existing Pump House and the construction of a four-storey extension alongside it. A glass walk way was constructed to link the two buildings. The museum reopened on 13 February 2010.
The new building houses the museum galleries, changing exhibitions, education service, Labour History Archive and Study Centre (formerly at 103 Princess Street), Textile Conservation Studio, corporate facilities, café and shop.  The new People's History Museum has more coherent museum galleries designed to display the collection with improved interactive exhibits and interpretation.
A larger, temporary exhibition gallery allows more of the museum's own collections to be seen, as well as topical national touring exhibitions. A dedicated community gallery provides local people with a space to display their own work while the integration of the Labour History Archive and Textile Conservation Studio allows visitors to see the museum's work.
People's History Museum