pullman national monument, illinois

Take a tour through the highlights of Illinois's only National Monument, the Town of Pullman.
Built in 1880 by George Pullman the company owned town includes factory buildings, a church, shops, parks, a school and over 1,200 brick homes built for the company's employees.
If you would prefer to go on a private tour of the town please contact me at pullmanprivatetour.com.  All tours are fully customizable and can start from Chicago or from the visitor center in Pullman.

Pullman National Monument Visitor Information Center

Hotel Florence

The Greenstone Church

Market Hall

Pullman Stables

Arcade Park

Jump in your car and head to the northern part of the town to visit the A. Philip Randolph Pullman Porter Museum. The museum aims is to promote, honor and celebrate the legacy of A. Philip Randolph, Pullman Porters and the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters. 
The Pullman company at one point employed over 12,000 African Americans as porters and maids. Learn about the conditions the Porters worked under and the man who helped create the first African-American labor union.  
Randolph later went to play a prominent role in the Civil Rights Movement and was one of the principal organizers and speakers at the March on Washington in August 1963.

Information about opening hours and exhibits are located on the Museum's website: https://aprpullmanportermuseum.org/
  

A. Philip Randolph Pullman Porter Museum

Pullman National Monument, Illinois

art deco chicago architecture

Chicago is home to one of the largest collections of Art Deco buildings in the USA. On this tour, we will highlight a number of great buildings built between 1928 and 1934. These skyscrapers were designed not to look like the revivalist buildings that had come before, instead these fresh sleek new buildings representing all that was best from the Roaring Twenties.

If you're taking this tour on a weekday I suggest you walk into the lobbies of the buildings, check with building security and then take plenty of pictures! Most building owners permit guests to take pictures, just make sure you don't block the pedestrian traffic. On weekends most of the building lobbies are not accessible. 

If you're interested in learning more about this subject and would like to hire me as your private walking guide please contact me at ckchicago@comcast.net
 

The Carbide and Carbon Building

Chicago Motor Club Building

The Merchandise Mart

Century Tower

Civic Opera House

Field Building

Chicago Board of Trade Building

The Old Post Office (Part 1)

The building then sat empty for the next 20 years, reopening in 2019 after the owners spent $800 on the largest single adaptive reuse project in the nation.  It's now home to the headquarters of many large corporations including Walgreens and Ferrara Candy.  On the roof is a 3.5-acre rooftop park with a jogging track and a basketball court.
 
Inside the vast lobby, there are many Art Deco features, look out for the cream marble walls, French glass windows, light fixtures and tile reliefs showing the different ways mail was transported back in the thirties. 

The building's exterior is clad in limestone with narrow recessed windows and vertical uninterrupted piers, mitigating the length of the building.
 
Fun Fact: The lobby appeared in the opening scenes from the movie The Dark Knight - remember the bank robbery scene at Gotham National Bank?

The Old Post Office (Part 2)

Walking tour of select Art Deco Buildings 

Art Deco Chicago Architecture

Colm Ronan

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