Pullman House Project

11/23/2024

🌊✨ Check out this vintage promotional booklet featuring George Pullman's iconic Castle Rest on the cover! 🏰 The Thousand Islands near Alexandria Bay, NY, are a stunning archipelago of over 1,800 islands along the St. Lawrence River. Known for their lush greenery, sparkling waters, and historic charm, these islands were home to Pullman’s magnificent summer retreat. Built in 1888 and designed by architect Solon S. Beman, Castle Rest offered breathtaking views and was the epitome of Gilded Age luxury. 🌿🚤💎

This is a promotional booklet on The Thousand Islands near Alexandria Bay in upstate New York which uses George Pullman's Castle Rest home on the cover. The ...

11/22/2024

🏛️✨ In 1984, architect Michael Shymanski uncovered a piece of Chicago's past: the story of the long-lost Pullman Mansion. Built in the 1870s at 18th & Prairie, this grand home, designed by Henry S. Jaffray, once dazzled with interiors by famed artisans like Pottier & Stymus and Herter Brothers. For over 50 years, it was the heart of Chicago society until the 1920s when the area declined. By 1922, the mansion was demolished, and its contents were auctioned off. 🏚️💔

In 1984, architect Michael Shymanski made a discovery in the basement of the old Chicago Historical Society Building that illuminated the history of one of t...

11/21/2024

Florence Pullman Handwritten Note in 1906 quoting Ralph Waldo Emerson, “That which we are, we shall teach, not voluntarily, but involuntarily” The full quote is: “That which we are, we shall teach, not voluntarily, but involuntarily. Thoughts come into our minds by avenues which we never left open, and thoughts go out of our minds through avenues which we never voluntarily opened.” Learn more about the Pullman family on guided tours, ticket sales for the 1:00 p.m. daily tour close at Noon. Get your tickets online or at the register at our Welcome Center. https://pullmanhouseproject.eventbrite.com

11/20/2024

📰 On this day in history: The El Paso Herald reported on November 18, 1921, that the luxurious furnishings of the George M. Pullman mansion went up for auction! 🏛️✨ Each piece, once part of the Midwest’s most opulent home, was tagged and sold to the highest bidder. Located on Chicago's Near South Side, this grand residence was a jewel of its time and a showcase during the World’s Fair. Learn more about the Pullman family on guided tours, ticket sales for the 1:00 p.m. daily tour close at Noon. Get your tickets online or at the register at our Welcome Center. https://pullmanhouseproject.eventbrite.com 🌍🏙️

An article in the El Paso Herald on November 18, 1921, recounts the auction of furnishings from the George M. Pullman home, once famed as the most lavishly f...

11/19/2024

👀✨ Step behind the scenes of the Hotel Florence in Pullman National Historical Park during the 1940s and 1950s! Lupe Quiroz Figueroa shares stories about her grandmother, Elena Rodriguez Quiroz, who worked as the head Housekeeper at this historic hotel. 🏨💼 Discover what life was like in Pullman back then and the incredible legacy of those who kept the hotel running! ❤️

Lupe Quiroz Figueroa talks about her grandmother Elena Rodriguez Quiroz who served as the head Housekeeper at the Hotel Florence in Pullman National Historical Park. This interview was recorded on Oct

11/18/2024

🚨 Exciting News! 🚨Block Club Chicago just rounded up 17 local businesses you’ve got to check out – and guess who made the list? 🎉 That’s right, the Pullman House Project and our amazing Pullman National Historical Park! 🌟🎁 Looking for holiday gift ideas? Neighbors in Roseland, Pullman, & the East Side don’t have to look far. 🛍️ Give the gift of history with one of our tours – perfect for the history buffs in your life! 🏡✨ Treat your friends and family to a walk through Pullman’s rich history. Our tours welcome visitors into beautifully restored homes & share what life was like for the workers of the legendary train car company. 🚂💼 📅 Don’t wait – make the holidays unforgettable!

Roseland, Pullman and East Side shops are offering books, flowers, CBD products, perfumes, neighborhood tours and more.

11/17/2024

📜 On November 17, 1918, the Chicago Tribune featured an article on the Pullman Free School of Manual Training, which today is known as Gwendolyn Brooks College Preparatory Academy. In 1897, George M. Pullman left a $1.2 million bequest to establish a free manual training school for Pullman residents and employees’ children. 🛠️ The school opened in 1915 and served the community until 1950, after which the endowment established the George M. Pullman Educational Foundation. 🏫 The building later became Gregor Mendel High School, then St. Martin de Porres High School, and was acquired by Chicago Public Schools in 1997. In 2001, it was renamed to honor former U.S. Poet Laureate and South Side icon, Gwendolyn Brooks. 📚✍️

📜 On November 17, 1918, the Chicago Tribune featured this article on the Pullman Free School of Manual Training, which today is known as Gwendolyn Brooks Co...

11/16/2024

On November 16, 1914, Pullman Company photographer John P. Van Vorst captured this interior of a Pullman train car. Starting as a worker in the Hammer Shop in 1897, Van Vorst moved through various roles before becoming assistant photographer in 1904, and he served as Pullman’s dedicated photographer for an impressive 41 years! Living near 115th and LaSalle in Roseland, he signed each photo with his initials, J.P.V.V. 📸

11/15/2024

The Pullman House Project is at the heart of the revitalization of the Chicago's Southside. Check out this Chicago Sun-Times out today and discover history in Chicago's first National Historical Park! Pullman National Historical Park🏰 We now offer tours of four restored historic homes 🏠, including the former residence of a Pullman Palace Car Co. superintendent, complete with an icebox from 1900, gas lamps, and Victorian charm. 🕰️✨ Don’t miss the Pullman Club Coffee Shop, located in a stunning Queen Anne home 🍵☕, where you can sip coffee in a room adorned with 1900s stained glass and historic photos. 📸 Explore the Pullman National Historical Park, from its iconic clock tower 🕒 to its grassroots walking tours and exhibits. With visitor numbers climbing from 13,000 in 2016 to over 29,000 in 2023, now’s the perfect time to experience this hidden gem. 🌟 👉 Plan your visit and help make Pullman a must-see destination! 🚌 Easily accessible by car and public transit.
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The nonprofit has four restored Pullman homes open to the public for tours and ramped up service at its cafe, which is the neighborhood’s only coffee shop.

11/14/2024

On November 14, 2016, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel highlighted how economic development in Historic Pullman is boosting job opportunities and raising property values. With investments in local institutions like Olive-Harvey College, Gwendolyn Brooks College Prep, and facilities such as the Method Factory and Whole Foods distribution center, Pullman is seeing rising housing values and a decrease in crime. The Catalyst Fund aims to further enhance Pullman’s quality of life, making it an attractive place to live and work.

On November 14, 2016, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel highlighted how economic development in Historic Pullman is boosting job opportunities and raising property ...

11/13/2024

🎶 Flashback to November 1887! The Chicago Lady Trio’s concert at Market Hall was a hit, drawing rave reviews as Pullman’s best musical event ever! 🎻✨

In politics, Pullman workers defied the claim that they were “voting like sheep,” as they nearly overturned George M. Pullman’s push for annexation! 🗳️💪

Social highlights: Mary Catherine McKibben Sanger visited Major Stewart’s family, and Dr. Chessey took up residence at the Hotel Florence. 🏛️🌆
Pullman Whist Club No. 1 hosted a fun night of cards, and “Human Nature” performed at the Arcade Theater, with a follow-up show by “One of the Bravest.” 🎭💫

The carvers' department enjoyed the rare perk of a Saturday half-day—work-life balance, 1887 style! 🛠️🌞

Learn more about Pullman workers on guided tours, ticket sales for the 1:00 p.m. daily tour close at Noon. Get your tickets online or at the register at our Welcome Center. https://pullmanhouseproject.eventbrite.com

This article from the Inter Ocean, published on November 13, 1887, captures the lively happenings in Pullman that November. The highlight of the month was a ...

11/12/2024

On November 12, 1895, George M. Pullman and his building manager, John B. Griffin, faced a shocking threat from William Sherman, a window cleaner influenced by a fortune teller. Convinced they were "secret enemies" out to harm him, Sherman plotted against them. Thankfully, police intervened just in time, preventing any harm. This strange incident remains a fascinating piece of Pullman history. Learn more about George Pullman on guided tours, ticket sales for the 1:00 p.m. daily tour close at Noon. Get your tickets online or at the register at our Welcome Center. https://pullmanhouseproject.eventbrite.com

11/11/2024

✨ Here's a look back at President Obama’s inspiring words during the dedication of Pullman National Monument in 2015! His speech celebrated Pullman’s history as a beacon of industry, labor rights, and community pride—a legacy that continues to inspire today. 🇺🇸🏛️

President Barack Obama named Historic Pullman a national monument with a soaring speech about its historic significance on February 19, 2015.

11/10/2024

Help us wish our very own, Pat Shymanski a very happy birthday. Learn more about how preservationists, like Pat and her husband Mike Shymanski saved our historic town on one of our guided tours. Ticket sales for our 1:00 p.m. daily tour close at Noon. Get your tickets online or at the register at our Welcome Center.

On Chicago's Southside, a new program looks at the Pullman worker's experience. Alfonso Quiroz interviews Pat Shymanski, the organizer behind the Pullman House Project.

11/09/2024

The New York Times just published an article about how🎶✨ jazz legends like Duke Ellington, Count Basie, and Louis Armstrong had a love for trains—especially the elegant that carried them to gigs across the country 🚂. In the velvet-lined carriages, African American porters polished their shoes, clipped their hair, and served mint juleps, making these journeys unforgettable 💈🍹. For these icons, Pullman cars were more than transportation; they offered a safe space away from the racial violence of the Jim Crow South 🚫✊🏾. From “Happy Go Lucky Local” to “9:20 Special,” trains inspired many classic tunes that continue to resonate 🎺🎷. In these iconic cars, musicians connected with the Pullman porters, creating a unique bond over late-night jazz sessions and tunes that honored the railroad's soulful rhythm 🎶💼. Learn more about Pullman workers on guided tours, ticket sales for the 1:00 p.m. daily tour close at Noon. Get your tickets online or at the register at our Welcome Center. https://pullmanhouseproject.eventbrite.com

For Duke Ellington, Count Basie and Louis Armstrong, even their fame couldn’t fully protect them from the terrifying violence of Jim Crow. But the railroad, particularly the elegant Pullman sleeping car, provided a “home away from home.”

11/09/2024

🚂✨ to 1876 when Emperor Dom Pedro of Brazil, the only reigning monarch to visit the U.S. at the time, made his journey to San Francisco aboard the luxurious Pullman Palace Hotel Car, "Metropolitan," after attending the Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia. 👑🇧🇷Check out these renderings of the Emperor aboard the "Metropolitan"! Learn more about Pullman trains on our guided tours. Ticket sales for our 1:00 p.m. tour close at Noon. Get your tickets online or at the register at our Welcome Center. https://pullmanhouseproject.eventbrite.com 🎨🚃

11/08/2024

Looking for a captivating activity? Step into history at the Pullman House Project! Explore meticulously restored historic homes, delve into the lives of past residents, and uncover the legacy of those who shaped the Pullman Industrial Complex. Join us for an immersive journey – where stories of families and industry intertwine! https://pullmanhouseproject.eventbrite.com

11/07/2024

For those of us who grew up in Pullman National Historical Park in the ’70s and ’80s, a stop at Athens Grocery Store—fondly known to many as “Ted’s”—was a part of daily life. 🛒✨ Now, we get a special peek behind the counter thanks to Efi Poziopoulus James, whose parents ran this beloved community store! 🏪💛

Efi Poziopoulos James recalls the Athen's Grocery Store in Pullman National Historical Park. This interview was recorded on September 29, 2023 and posted on October 28, 2023.