In this article, the author reviews the history of the National Education Association (NEA), which celebrated its 150th year in 2007. Over that time, NEA has been a driving force in education at all levels. The story of NEA is about the building of a unique American school system and the articulation of three levels of education into a unified system. This story is also about how, in a single decade, NEA transformed itself into one of the largest and most powerful unions in the country. NEA's mission is to provide quality public education for all students. It is engrossed in finding adequate funding for education--including affordable and accessible higher education. The research center continues to survey the profession and report on the economic conditions and salaries for teachers and faculty across the nation. NEA continues to look for ways to improve the quality of the teaching. This brief overview of NEA's history will attempt to demonstrate that the founders of the organization would recognize their goals and aspirations in the Association's present form.