PULLMAN — For the 42nd consecutive year, residents of Historic Pullman will be opening their homes to curious visitors on Saturday and Sunday.
But an array of new features — along with the area's recent designation as a national monument — will make this year's Historic Pullman House Tour more extensive than ever.
For starters, this is the first year the self-guided tour will include the more than 100-year-old Pullman Elementary School, which will "provide a great opportunity for people who grew up in the area to come back and see what great condition it's in," Historic Pullman Foundation President Michael Shymanski told DNAinfo.
The tour will also include the Dunbar Home, a house built to accommodate residents of four different economic strata. More than 130 years after its construction, Shymanski said, projects like these can still teach us a lot about housing policy.
"It really showed that it was possible to design diverse neighborhoods in a way that could be viable, active and enriching — [George] Pullman's plan was to create an environment in which people could aspire to improve," Shymanski said. "And it shows in the Pullman of today, which still stands out for its economic, racial and social diversity."
Railroad magnate George Pullman built the town in 1880 as a home for his company's Chicago employees. The project was widely praised but unraveled in 1894 during the nationwide Pullman Railroad Strike, when an economic bust forced Pullman to raise rents while keeping his employees' wages the same.
On top of building showcases, the Historic Pullman House Tour will feature live music, food vendors and a classic car show.
More information and directions are available here. Tickets can be bought in advance here or by calling 773-785-8901.
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