Pullman National Monument

national monument, Pullman, Chicago, Illinois, United States

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July 21, 2026

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The Pullman National Monument is a national monument in Chicago, Illinois, established in 2015. It preserves the site of the first planned industrial community in the United States, including the historic Pullman railroad car factory and the Pullman porters museum.

The monument is named after George M. Pullman, an industrialist who invented the sleeping car and founded the Pullman Palace Car Company. He built the town of Pullman for his workers, featuring housing, shops, and recreational facilities. However, the town was also a company town, with Pullman exercising significant control over his employees' lives. This led to the Pullman Strike in 1894, a major labor dispute that significantly disrupted rail travel and involved federal intervention.

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George M. Pullman
Pullman, Illinois
The most unusual aspect of Pullman’s business was the town he constructed for his workers, which he called Pullman. He began planning the town in 1879, and in 1880 he purchased 4,000 acres (1,620 hectares) adjacent to his factory and near Lake Calumet,…
Read More
The most unusual aspect of Pullman’s business was the town he constructed for his workers, which he called Pullman. He began planning the town in 1879, and in 1880 he purchased 4,000 acres (1,620 hectares) adjacent to his factory and near Lake Calumet,…
Read More