The elevation of the historic Pullman neighborhood to a National Monument and then a National Historical Park brought more visitors to theNational A. Philip Randolph Pullman Porter Museum that tells the story of the porters who served passengers on industrialist George Pullman's sleeping cars.
But many hoped to see a bigger museum.
So the National A. Philip Randolph Pullman Porter Museum at the corner of 104th and Maryland Ave., which was founded in 1995 by Dr. Lyn Hughes, is doubling in size. It closed about a year ago to undergo an expansion that's now nearly complete.
The museum, which is named after the founder of theBrotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters union, will reopen sometime next year on its 30th anniversary. It's planning to further expand into a full-fledged campus and create what it's billing as the nation's first black labor tourism district.
People are also reading…
"The National Historic Park status helped us and hurt us," President and Executive Director David Peterson Jr. said. "More people came to see us and thought we were at the same capacity of our counterparts. We don't have federal funding. We don't have the same capacity."
But the three-floor museum has been adding 3,612 more square feet. It's been expanding existing exhibits, including by further explaining the impact of the Pullman Porters on the Civil Rights movement and other movements.
"It's extremely important to flesh out these stories so they don't get lost in revisionist history or appropriated," Petersonsaid. "They're complex stories and we have to tell them the right way, not the watered-down vision. There will be more authenticity and more interactive experiences."
New interpretative panels also will better explain what the descendants of the Pullman Porters, many of whom were former slaves who were able to get ahead economically through the railroad jobs, went on to accomplish.
"We're going to put more emphasis on the descendants and make the connection to the modern day," Peterson said. "The Pullman Porters had a significant effect on economic advancement and civil rights that remain relevant today."
The museum plans to add a women's history museum, the Jessie White Black Labor Research Laboratory and the Phillip Randolph Culture Factory.
"We're going to double our footprint and create a black labor tourism district," Petersonsaid.
The new additions will all be located in historic buildings in the neighborhood near the museum at10406 S. Maryland Ave., Chicago, that will be renovated. ThePhillip Randolph Culture Factory, for instance, will be located in the Old Pullman Firehouse and will teach people in the community how to take advantage of the tourism in the neighborhood.
The library will include union archives and papers as well as genealogical materials people can use to research relatives.
The new women's history museum will highlight Madame C.J. Walker and other African-American women, particularly entrepreneurs.
"The black labor tourism district will be built on the shoulders of Dr. Hughes' vision," Petersonsaid. "We'll expand the museum to different sites so we can expand the story set and have the opportunity to tell the full story."
An outdoor Pullman Porters Row outside the museum will serve as a public space for community events.
TheNational A. Philip Randolph Pullman Porter Museum plans to raise funds for the projects as well as seek grant opportunities.
"This will mean growth for the neighborhood, where African-Americans could not live until the mid- to late- 1960s," he said. "This will tell the stories of African Americans and preserve women's history and contribution to the labor movement that's seldom honored and preserved. It will help bring tourism and help with cultural, social and economic development, creating a safe space for youth where they can get something healthy to eat or get jobs. It will serve as an epicenter for economic development and wraparound services."
A yearlong celebration of the museum's 30 years and the legacy of the sleeping car porters will take place in 2025. Several events, exhibits and fundraisers will be scheduled.
For more information, visit aprpullmanportermuseum.org or call 773-850-8580.
A look back at Northwest Indiana businesses that closed in 2023
A look back at Region businesses that closed in 2023
Local News
Alert Top Story Urgent
- Joseph S. Pete
- Updated
- 0
Beer Geeks, one of the Region's first, most beloved and most influential craft beer bars, closed after more than a decade and is being reimagined as a new concept.
Local News
Alert Top Story Urgent
88-year-old White Castle in Whiting, one of Chicago area's first, coming down to be replaced with new restaurant
- Joseph S. Pete
- Updated
- 0
The landmark 88-year-old castle-shaped White Castle in Whiting is coming down to be replaced with a newer, larger, more modern White Castle restaurant.
Local News
Editor's Pick
Silver Bullet Bar in downtown Crown Point closes
- Joseph S. Pete
- 0
A longtime staple in downtown Crown Point poured its last drink.
Local News
Alert Top Story Urgent
Westforth Sports gun shop in Cal Township closing after 66 years
- Joseph S. Pete
- 0
The longtime Westforth Sports gun shop is closing.
Local News
Alert Top Story Urgent
Lansing plant to close, laying off 274 workers
- Joseph S. Pete
- 0
The Silver Line Building Products plant at16801 Exchange Ave. will be shuttered permanently.
Localbusinesses
Highland's Brewfest to pour last beer, eying move to Lowell
- Joseph S. Pete
- 0
Brewfest in Highland will close in what's been called "an end of an era."
Local News
Alert Top Story Urgent
David's Bridal files for bankruptcy, could close all stores
- Joseph S. Pete
- Updated
- 0
David's Bridal filed for bankruptcy and could close all stores if no buyer emerges to save it.
Whiting News
Alert Top Story Urgent
88-year-old Whiting White Castle will end up on display in museums in Illinois and Indiana
- Joseph S. Pete
- Updated
- 0
The 88-year-old Whiting White Castlewill be remembered with displays at museums in two different states.
Local News
Alert Top Story Urgent Topical
88-year-old Whiting White Castle serves last sliders to nostalgic crowd
- Joseph S. Pete
- Updated
- 0
For years, the "millionaire's club" met every morning in the corner booth of the historic 88-year-old White Castle at Indianapolis Boulevard and 119th Street in downtown Whiting. The landmark restaurant served its final slider Tuesday.
Local News
Alert Top Story Urgent
- Joseph S. Pete
- Updated
- 0
One of Northwest Indiana's most popular and enduring hobby shops is looking for a buyer after the longtime owner died.
Local News
Urgent
- Joseph S. Pete
- Updated
- 0
J&L This N That Consignment Shop, a popular thrift store, closed in downtown Whiting after a run of several years.
Local News
Alert Top Story Urgent
Calumet Fisheries temporarily closed after failing health inspection
- Joseph S. Pete
- 0
A Calumet Region institution, Calumet Fisheries on the far South Side of Chicago, is temporarily closed after failing a city health inspection.
Local News
Alert Top Story
Calumet Fisheries suffers fire shortly after reopening after health inspection closure
- Joseph S. Pete
- 0
Just days after reopeningafter city health inspectors shut it down, Calumet Fisheries suffered a major fire.
Local News
Alert
Pepe's Mexican Restaurant is no mas in Valparaiso after 43 years
- Joseph S. Pete
- 0
Pepe's Mexican Restaurant is no mas in Valparaiso.
Local News
Alert Top Story Urgent
Former Beer Geeks bar closes after rebranding
- Joseph S. Pete
- 0
Beer Geeks in Highland rebranded as B-Side Bar & Lounge and then closed within a few months.
Business
Top Story Urgent
Bed Bath and Beyond to close Valparaiso store and multiple Chicagoland locations, leaving just one Region location left
- Joseph S. Pete
- Updated
- 0
Troubled retailerBed Bath and Beyond will permanently close its Valparaiso location as it shutters more stores nationwide as it looks to restructure and shrink its footprint to save the struggling business.
Local News
Alert Urgent
Peoples Bank closes downtown Hammond branch
- Joseph S. Pete
- Updated
- 0
Peoples Bank has shuttered its branch in downtown Hammond.
Business
Editor's Pick
Viking Artisan Ales to close Merrillville taproom
- Joseph S. Pete
- 0
Viking Artisan Ales will soon pour its last craft beer at its Merrillville taproom.
Local News
Alert Top Story
- Joseph S. Pete
- 0
Old Chicago Pizza & Taproom is closing after 15 years at one of Northwest Indiana's most prominent highway interchanges.
Local News
Urgent
Walmart closing Homewood store
- Joseph S. Pete
- Updated
- 0
Walmart is closing its big-box store in Homewood.
Local News
Alert Top Story
Chicago Auto Show returns with smaller footprint, no Camp Jeep track
- Joseph S. Pete
- 0
The Chicago Auto Show, the nation's largest auto show, returns to McCormick Place Saturday, running through Feb. 19.
Local News
Alert Top Story
Munster-based Land O'Frost laying off 215 workers in Chicago
- Joseph S. Pete
- 0
Munster-based Land O'Frost, the packaged lunchmeat giant, is laying off 215 workers in Chicago and shuttering a plant it acquired two years ago.
Local News
Urgent Editor's Pick
Ginuwine to trot out hits like 'Pony' at Festival of the Lakes
- Joseph S. Pete
- 0
Ginuwine will trot out hits like "Pony" at Festival of the Lakes.
0 Comments
'); var s = document.createElement('script'); s.setAttribute('src', 'https://assets.revcontent.com/master/delivery.js'); document.body.appendChild(s); window.removeEventListener('scroll', throttledRevContent); __tnt.log('Load Rev Content'); } } }, 100); window.addEventListener('scroll', throttledRevContent); }
Get local news delivered to your inbox!
Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter.
Joseph S. Pete
Business Reporter
- Author facebook
- Author twitter
- Author email
Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily!
{{description}}
Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items.
Followed notifications
Please log in to use this feature
Log In
Don't have an account? Sign Up Today
