Reconstructing the actual local universe

I will describe a method that can be used to reconstruct the initial conditions of the local universe accurately. The method is applied to the SDSS volume. High-resolution simulations of the reconstructed initial conditions have been carried to recover of the formation histories and structures observed in the local universe.  I will also describe how the results can be used to study the formation and structure of the local cosmic web and of galaxies that are embedded in it.