Pullman House Project

The Pullman House Project's Welcome Center at 605 East 111th Street is the former home of H.H. Sessions, a businessman’s club as well as the well-known Sessions restaurant. This is a restaurant review of Sessions from June 2, 1985.

History Adds to Flavor to Brunch at Sessions Pullman Club in 1985 The Pullman House Project's new Welcome Center is the former home o...

This 1908 photograph shows the “Ball Park Special” along the Springfield, Troy and Piqua Railway in Springfield, Ohio. The special excursion train carried passengers from Springfield to a ball park in nearby Snyder, reflecting the growing popularity of baseball and leisure travel in the early 20th century. Conductors, railway workers, and local residents pose beside the wooden passenger cars as a steam locomotive waits in the distance. Utility poles, unpaved streets, and the long line of railcars capture the atmosphere of small-town American rail travel during the height of the steam era. The image comes from the archives of the History Center in Columbus, Ohio.

This photograph, taken in the 1920s at the Pullman shops near 113th and Langley Avenue, shows a group of Pullman workers posing in front of several railroad cars inside the sprawling rail yard. Charles “Carl” Gartelmann stands at the far right wearing a long coat and hat. The men are dressed in a mix of work clothes, overalls, caps, and suits, reflecting the variety of skilled trades and positions found within the Pullman shops during the height of railcar production. In the background, one of Pullman’s distinctive blockhouses is visible, a reminder of the industrial infrastructure that supported the vast Pullman manufacturing complex on Chicago’s South Side.

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