Chicago’s Pullman National Monument and the Historic Pullman Foundation will host an Open Housefor the entire family on Father’s Day, Sunday, June 19, from 9am to 2pm.
The Open House offers the public free exhibits, tours and activities showcasing the rich history of the Pullman community. This includes an antique automobile show at the Pullman National Monument Visitor Information Center, 11141 South Cottage Grove from 9am to noon, and photo opportunities with historic Pullman characters and park rangers. Other featured exhibits are the Chicagoland Lionel model railroad club displaying several of their favorite Pullman trains; a Pullman model World War II tank; and a Pullman Porter and Super Junior Ranger exhibit starring 15 year old author Aida Frye. Her visits with family to more than 200 national parks are the subject of her newbook, “America, Can I Have Your Autograph, the Story of Junior Ranger Aida Frey.”
Guided site tours of the historic former Pullman factory where the luxurious wood train cars were produced in the 1880s, the Thomas Dunbar House (tours offered from 10am to 1pm) depicting daily life of a Pullman employee and his rise up the company ladder from 1880 to 1910, and the interior of the first floor of the clock tower building, will also be offered. Visitors will also have an opportunity to tour The National A. Philip Randolph Pullman Porter Museum Exhibit. It highlights the contribution of African American workers that were vital to the success of The Pullman Company and rail passenger service throughout America. Visitors can learn about the leadership of A. Philip Randolph and the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters during the great migration and civil rights movement.
The Open House is one in an ongoing series of events presented in part by Partners in Preservation, a community-based initiative created by American Express and the National Trust for Historic Preservation in 2006 to raise awareness of the preservation needs of historic places. They recently launched its 2016 campaign in honor of the National Park Service’s Centennial —Partners in Preservation: National Parks that will award $2 million in grants to historic sites to help preserve and restore national parks. The distribution of the grants will be decided by public vote currently underway. To help the Pullman National Monument win a $250,000 grant to restore the historic clock tower and transform it into a new visitor center welcoming future generations, click VoteYourPark.org. Show you have voted and become eligible to win a travel prize from National Geographic. Voting is now underway from now through July 5.
For additional information about the Open House, visit www.pullmanil.org or call 773-785-8901.
The public is also invited to share their Pullman national park experiences on social media and celebrate these sites using #VoteYourPark and tagging @savingplaces on Instagram and Twitter posts.
