Pullman National Monument

While in the Chicago area to visit our son, we went to the Pullman National Monument. This is a very new Monument (2015) and thus doesn't have a full visitor center or many displays. In the fall of 2020 it will have a big, new visitor center and displays in the old Pullman Car manufacturing building.

The monument isn't just about the famous Pullman Luxury rail cars but is more about the planned community that was designed and built for the workers and their families. The planned community was a vast improvement over the bad living conditions in the area and thus attracted the best people available. Of course, it seems all things must have their turmoil and this was no exception. The monument will tell the story of George Pullman, his family, the town of Pullman and of course the Pullman Palace Car Company. The current visitor center was created and managed by a local group (The Historic Pullman Foundation) many years ago after saving the town of Pullman from demolition. It will continue to serve until the National Park Service has had time to bring things up to their standard.

Most of the buildings in the town of Pullman still exist but residences have been privately owned for a hundred years. The condition, therefore, varies from place to place. We drove through the streets to check it out and it is still obvious that this was once a grand town. The community church and hotel still stand as monikers of the community. The Historic Pullman Foundation has been successful in keeping an historic community from being wiped and forgotten. Now the National Park Service will bring extensive help and exposure.

Cabinet from George Pullman's home

Hotel Florence

Watch Tower in old Pullman Palace
Car Company design and
manufacturing building. This will be
the new visitor center.