Today, President Obama is set to designate Pullman Historic District as a National Historic Monument, adding it to Chicago's long list of federally-recognized historical places.
The neighborhood was founded by George Pullman in 1879, using 600 acres of the area to build his factories for the Pullman Palace railroad cars. To house his workers, Pullman decided to build a model community. Architect Solon Spencer Berman, landscape architect Nathan F. Barrett and civil engineer Benzett Williams were hired to design the Town of Pullman. The first resident moved in January 1, 1881, and by 1885 the population was approximately 9,000.
Pullman was at one time recognized as “The World's Most Perfect Town” and was a major tourist attraction during the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition. However, there were problems. During a national economic depression the Pullman Company reduced wages and kept rents the same. In 1884, Pullman refused to meet with the workers to discuss grievances and the workers went on strike. Riots broke out, federal troops were called in and the strike eventually ended. The ordeal gave way to what is now Labor Day.
Here’s a brief rundown of Pullman’s journey to national park status:
• Pullman was annexed into Chicago in 1889.
• In 1925, the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters was founded in Pullman and becomes the first all African American union in the United States.
• In 1969, Pullman was declared a national landmark district and placed on the national register of historic places.
• In 1970, the State of Illinois declared Pullman a state landmark and in 1972 Pullman was declared a City of Chicago Landmark.