Pullman National Historic Park

Jan. 31, 2024

This site is the former massive industrial complex for manufacturing Pullman train cars. These were luxury passenger sleeper cars that were hugely popular in the late 1800s. In addition to the factory, the company built modern housing for employees that included indoor plumbing which was quite advanced for the time. The complex included a store, theater, hotel, church and water management systems. Several of the brick factory buildings were demolished long ago but most of the houses are still there and are now privately owned. I did a walking tour of the area starting at the clock tower/administration building. Quite the juxtaposition with a crumbling 1860s factory building just across the street from a newer paper manufacturing plant where the former lumber mill was located. The visitor center has in depth history of the site and company in general including war manufacturing, unions, workers strike, discrimination, wealth and death.