Pullman National Historical Park, Chicago, IL

I found out about this newest addition to the National Park system from a reference at the Indiana Dunes NP website. Had no idea who George Pullman was, although I have heard of Pullman cars related to train travel. Since it was so close to Indiana Dunes, I added this to our itinearary. We arrived just before the visitor center opened, admission was free. The visitor center was formerly the administration clock tower building of Pullman Palace Car Company, built in 1880.

The exhibits in the visitor center covered how George Pullman developed, manufactured and marketed luxury train cars in the 1870s, such that Pullman became synonymous with luxury. Uniformed porters, mostly African Americans, were part of that image. There was a corner of the wall that showed famous people affiliated with Pullman porters. I had no idea that Thurgood Marshall, the late Supreme Court judge, was a porter, and that former first lady Michelle Obama's great grandfather was a Pullman porter.

We learned the neighborhood around the visitor center was part of the planned community that Pullman developed to house workers. There was a lot of history related to the town itself, including labor unrest, civil/labor rights and the strike of 1894 which ultimately led to the IL Supreme Court ordering the dissolution of the company town.

Above: House of the Pullman general manager was restored under the Pullman House Project. We had coffee inside the house, and watched a movie about workers who lived in the town.

We walked around the neighborhood. Most of the workers' houses are now privately owned. We visited the church and passed by the former stables and fire house. There were groups of school kids walking around on ranger guided tours.

Below is the Hotel Florence, named after George Pullman's daughter. It was closed for renovation.

I finally gave in and bought the National Parks passport, and the Pullman National Historical Park became the first stamp in the passport. I will have to stop and get the Indiana Dunes NP stamp on my return trip.

Before driving on to Madison, WI, we stopped by a nearby Planet Fitness for a nice long shower. Arriving in Madison about 3 hours later, we did some shopping at Walmart in Monona. RVparky said this Walmart allowed overnight parking, but recent reviews said not so. We were the only RVs on the surface parking lot (the main parking garage was underground) and did not feel comfortable there. We drove a bit further and spent a restful night at Cracker Barrell.