Historic Pullman Foundation

Visit the Pullman National Monument -Chicago’s only National Park Service site. In 1880 George M. Pullman built the Nation’s first planned industrial community with housing, parks, schools, a church, civic spaces, commercial buildings and an industrial complex all designed to provide a pleasant working and living environment for Pullman’s workers. Pullman’s experiment was declared the “World’s most perfect town” and attracted visitors from around the world. Pullman’s experiment however could not prevent growing labor unrest fueled in 1893-4 by one of the worst economic recessions in our Nation’s history. Lower wages coupled with a refusal to lower rents charged to workers resulted in the Pullman Strike of 1894, a labor action with National consequences. Now part of Chicago, the Town of Pullman has been designated a City, State and National Landmark District, and as of 2015, Chicago’s only National Monument. In partnership with the National Park Service, the Historic Pullman Foundation provides a Visitor Center for use by the public as a place to view exhibits, original artifacts, railroad memorabilia and to learn the history of Pullman. Tours are conducted for groups by special arrangement and for the public on seasonal schedules.