Pullman House Project

In late March 1880, architect Irving K. Pond joined Solon S. Beman’s office and was immediately assigned to help design the first building constructed in the new town of Pullman: the Allen Paper Car Wheel Company. Located just north of the Pullman Passenger Car Works, the massive industrial complex stretched 360 feet and was divided into two large sections connected by a prominent two-story central block. The front portion contained the company offices, while the rear housed drying rooms, lathes, and manufacturing spaces used in the production of paper railroad car wheels. Additional attached buildings included a foundry for casting iron wheel hubs and centers, along with a pattern shop, blacksmith shop, boiler house, and storage rooms. Pond’s early work on the building’s roof trusses and construction details marked the beginning of his important role in shaping Pullman’s industrial landscape.

On May 10, 1876, President Ulysses S. Grant ceremonially started the massive Corliss Engine at the Philadelphia Centennial Exposition, with Dom Pedro II, Emperor of Brazil, among the distinguished guests watching the enormous flywheel begin to turn. After observing the machine, Dom Pedro reportedly remarked, “This beats our South American revolutions.” Built by George H. Corliss in Providence, Rhode Island, the giant steam engine powered much of the machinery at the exposition and became one of the marvels of the industrial age. A few years later, the engine found a second life in Pullman, where it was installed at the Pullman Car Works to help power the factory that produced the world-famous Pullman railroad cars.

Florence Pullman Lowden was featured in an article published in the Reading Times on May 28, 1928! Mrs. Lowden, wife of former Illinois Governor Frank Lowden, found herself in the spotlight during his presidential bid, which faced stiff competition from Herbert Hoover.

In the article, Mrs. Lowden dismisses rumors of being paid to name her father's Pullman railroad cars. She and Frank met at the St. Louis World’s Fair, and she was known for her understated style and preference for meaningful experiences over fashion and luxury resorts. Learn more about the Pullman family on guided tours. Tickets:. https://pullmanhouseproject.eventbrite.com

Florence Pullman Featured in 1928 Article About Potential First Ladies Florence Pullman Lowden was featured in this article that was published in the Reading Times on May 28, 1928. Mrs. Lowden’s husband Frank, the former governo...

The Esterhammer family living room in Pullman National Historical Park, photographed in 1966. Built-in bookcases, upholstered chairs, and a decorative fireplace reflected the warmth and comfort of everyday life inside one of Pullman’s historic worker homes.

This photograph shows students inside the Pullman Free School of Manual Training, likely in the 1910s or 1920s, carefully working on technical drawings at large drafting tables. The school focused on practical industrial education, preparing young men for careers in engineering, manufacturing, and skilled trades during Pullman’s industrial peak.

A remarkable 1880s stereopticon view looking south at 111th Street and Champlain Avenue captures Pullman in its earliest years. Horse-drawn carriages travel along the unpaved street while rows of newly built homes rise in the distance, reflecting George Pullman’s vision for a carefully planned industrial community. Photographed by T.S. Johnson, this image offers a rare glimpse into daily life at the very beginning of what would become Pullman National Historical Park. Courtesy: Friends of Pullman National Historical Park

Today we honor the life of Warren Pullman Miller, who passed away on May 24, 2022, just one day before his 82nd birthday.

Born in 1940 and raised in Chicago’s Hyde Park, Warren was the great-grandson of George M. Pullman and the grandson of Illinois Governor Frank O. Lowden. The son of Florence Lowden Miller and Dr. Charles P. Miller Jr., he carried forward a family legacy rooted in service, education, and civic responsibility.

Warren studied at the University of Chicago Lab Schools, Harvard, and the University of Michigan, served as a Marine Reservist, and later contributed to environmental policy in Illinois. In the 1980s, he lived in Pullman and supported preservation efforts through the Historic Pullman Foundation.

He is remembered for his intellect, kindness, and lifelong commitment to public service and history.

In Memoriam: Warren Pullman Miller Warren Pullman Miller, 81, the grandson of former Illinois Governor Frank O. Lowden and the great-grandson of industrialist George M. Pullman, died in his Ca...

On May 23, 1881, the 4th Duke of Sutherland joined George Pullman for a special visit to the new Town of Pullman. Traveling aboard Pullman’s luxurious railcars, the Duke toured the factory grounds, admired the massive Corliss engine, visited the brick yards, and explored the shops where Pullman cars were built. Champagne and sandwiches were served on the return trip downtown.

A postcard view of the Pullman Palace sleeping car Palmyra, a rolling symbol of luxury rail travel from the golden age of the railroad. Built by the Pullman Company, cars like this helped redefine long-distance travel with elegant interiors, attentive service, and comfort that amazed passengers across the country. From Chicago’s Pullman shops, these railcars carried America into a new era of travel and innovation. Learn more on guided tours: https://pullmanhouseproject.eventbrite.com

These rare views looking southeast from the 111th Street elevated tracks capture Pullman in transition before the demolition of the Arcade Building in 1925. In one photograph, the roofline of the Hotel Florence rises in the distance, while the other reveals the top of the famous Arcade, once the commercial and social heart of George Pullman’s industrial town. Railroad tracks, modest service buildings, and dirt roads remind us how closely transportation, industry, and everyday life were woven together in the early years of Pullman National Historical Park.