“The most influential black man in America for the hundred years following the Civil War was a figure no one knew. He was not the educator Booker T. Washington or the sociologist W.E.B. Dubois, although both were inspired by him. He was the one black man to appear in more movies than Harry Belafonte or Sidney Poitier. He discovered the North Pole alongside Admiral Peary and helped give birth to the blues. He launched the Montgomery bus boycott that sparked the civil rights movement – and tapped Martin Luther King, Jr. to lead both. The most influential black man in America was the Pullman Porter.”
– Rising from the Rails: Pullman Porters and the Making of the Black Middle Class, Larry Tye, Holt & Company Press, 2004
The Achievements
Many porters have advanced in age, gracefully upheld a tradition of style and service while at Amtrak. The “Old Heads” as they were known by the 1980s, found themselves working beside younger Amtrak employees that had no prior experience on the rails. These graying Porters imparted the demeanor and high service standards of their predecessors to the newer Amtrak crewmembers. This left an indelible impression on the carrier and its younger, uninitiated employees. By the 1990s, nearly all of the original porters had retired, closing a period that dated back to the post Civil War era. Travelers can still experience the romance and excitement of a private accommodation aboard a railway sleeping car. Amtrak offers these accommodations as an upgrade from coach-class on most of its overnight intercity passenger trains. The term “Porter” has all but vanished in favor of “Attendant” - in fact, Porter has become somewhat of a derogatory term. What was traditionally an African American occupation is now filled by men and women of all ethnicities and backgrounds. The Pullman Porters of yesterday left behind an important legacy of service and grace amid a class struggle to improve the lives of their children and grandchildren. Their accomplishments, including the advancement of civil rights and creation of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters, paved the way for future generations of African American workers. Union leader A. Philip Randolph and several former Porters went on to influence public policy in Washington that ultimately led to passage of the 1964 Civil Rights Act.
The Pullman Town
Today, Pullman is a strong, historic community, focused on preserving its heritage. In 1960 , the area was threatened with demolition for the construction of an industrial park near the newly constructed Lake Calumet shipping port. Knowledgeable and well-versed on the history of their neighborhood, residents galvanized to protest the demolition From this, the Pullman Civic Organization was formed. The residents were able to successfully halt the construction on the industrial park and saved the town of Pullman from being only a page of history, bringing Pullman into its next chapter. A small group of residents formed the Beman Committee, a part of the Pullman Civic Organization, focused on the preservation of the architecture of the original town. Through their efforts, the Town of Pullman was designated an Illinois Historic District in 1969, a National Historic Landmark District in 1970 and in 1972, the southern part of the District was designated as one of the first landmark districts by the City of Chicago. More recently, the City of Chicago amended the historic district boundaries to include both the northern and southern parts of the District.
Then, in 1973, the Historic Pullman Foundation was formed, with a mission of expanding on the preservation efforts already started and involving greater resources from outside the community. In 1975, when the Hotel Florence and all of its original furniture and fixtures was in jeopardy of being sold off at auction, the Foundation took action and, with the help of George Pullman’s grand-daughter, Florence Lowden Miller, was able to purchase the Hotel and all of its contents. They then spent the next 25 years working to restore the building and keep it open to the public.Since 1973 the Historic Pullman Foundation has acquired several other of the town's architectural gems: the Market Hall, the Historic Pullman Center, and the Historic Pullman Foundation Visitor Center, which sits on the site of the original Arcade Building.
In 1991, the state of Illinois purchased the Hotel Florence and the Pullman Factory Clock Tower and Administration buildings under the auspices of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency (IHPA) for the development of the Pullman State Historic Site. Extensive preservation and restoration work by IHPA began on the Hotel and Factory site in 2000 and continues today. The Pullman district also benefits from a diverse and proud residential community. Some residents came to Pullman with an interest in its history. Some with interests in the preservation efforts and working on renovating their own home. Some are long-time family residents, going back as far as five generations living in Pullman. But all appreciate the deep sense of community that we all share.
Then, in 1973, the Historic Pullman Foundation was formed, with a mission of expanding on the preservation efforts already started and involving greater resources from outside the community. In 1975, when the Hotel Florence and all of its original furniture and fixtures was in jeopardy of being sold off at auction, the Foundation took action and, with the help of George Pullman’s grand-daughter, Florence Lowden Miller, was able to purchase the Hotel and all of its contents. They then spent the next 25 years working to restore the building and keep it open to the public.Since 1973 the Historic Pullman Foundation has acquired several other of the town's architectural gems: the Market Hall, the Historic Pullman Center, and the Historic Pullman Foundation Visitor Center, which sits on the site of the original Arcade Building.
In 1991, the state of Illinois purchased the Hotel Florence and the Pullman Factory Clock Tower and Administration buildings under the auspices of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency (IHPA) for the development of the Pullman State Historic Site. Extensive preservation and restoration work by IHPA began on the Hotel and Factory site in 2000 and continues today. The Pullman district also benefits from a diverse and proud residential community. Some residents came to Pullman with an interest in its history. Some with interests in the preservation efforts and working on renovating their own home. Some are long-time family residents, going back as far as five generations living in Pullman. But all appreciate the deep sense of community that we all share.
This video explains the history of the Pullman communities and towns.
Historic Pullman Foundation
The establishment of the Foundation was the natural outgrowth of efforts initiated by the Pullman Civic Organization and its Beman Committee. Residents of Pullman and other interested individuals developed a growing awareness that Pullman’s historic significance and unique architecture needed to be preserved and protected.
Through their efforts, the Town of Pullman was designated an Illinois Historic District in 1969, a National Landmark District in 1970 and in 1972, the southern part of the District was designated as one of the first landmark districts by the City of Chicago. More recently the City of Chicago amended the historic district boundaries to include both the north and southern parts of the district.
Through their efforts, the Town of Pullman was designated an Illinois Historic District in 1969, a National Landmark District in 1970 and in 1972, the southern part of the District was designated as one of the first landmark districts by the City of Chicago. More recently the City of Chicago amended the historic district boundaries to include both the north and southern parts of the district.