News Release

National Park Service Awards Contract for New Visitor Center in Pullman National Monument Historic Administration Clock Tower Building

Date: January 27, 2020
Contact: Sue Bennett, 773.468.9310 ext. 1002

CHICAGO -- The National Park Service (NPS) has awarded a $5.8 million contract to veteran-owned small business Griggs Mitchell & Alma of Illinois to stabilize the Administration Clock Tower Building and develop a visitor center for Pullman National Monument at 11057 S. Cottage Grove Ave., Chicago, Illinois. Funded by the National Park Foundation and its donors and combined with an NPS Centennial Challenge Grant, the project is scheduled to start construction in February 2020 and is expected to take about a year to complete.

The new visitor center will be an ideal first stop for visitors to the monument. Exhibits and programs will share the broad stories of Pullman, including George Pullman, his company and vision. Visitors can get a glimmer of the opulence of a wood Pullman Palace Sleeping car in the entrance exhibit, get multiple perspectives of the 1894 Pullman Strike and boycott, and learn about the struggles of the African American Pullman porters to unionize and gain rights with the company in the 1930s. Park staff and volunteers can help visitors plan their experience within the monument at partner sites such as Pullman State Historic Site, the Historic Pullman Foundation and the National A. Philip Randolph Pullman Porter Museum. 

“The National Park Service is thrilled to be a partner in the revitalization of Pullman’s history and the neighborhood,” said Sue Bennett, acting superintendent of Pullman National Monument. “In many ways, Pullman is a nationally significant cultural resource, with a fascinating history that provides relevant insight to today’s current events. We expect Pullman will soon become a destination for new visitors throughout Chicagoland and the nation, while encouraging return adventures for others.” 

“Pullman Factory and Hotel Florence are fascinating historic properties that are relevant to our state’s and nation’s industrial development for that time period,” said Colleen Callahan, director of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR). “We’re excited about the improvements to the site knowing these changes will help to increase visibility and interest in George Pullman, his businesses, and his influence in Chicago, as well as his contribution to our nation’s history.”

After standing for almost 117 years as a Chicago landmark, the Administration Clock Tower Building was seriously damaged by an arson fire in December 1998. The State of Illinois reconstructed the building in 2005, and it has remained unoccupied since that time. The state conveyed the building to the National Park Service, creating the opportunity to designate Pullman National Monument in 2015. 

“The new visitor center will provide the gateway to an impressive historical and cultural experience for all those who enter,” said Will Shafroth, president and CEO of the National Park Foundation, the official nonprofit partner of the National Park Service. “The National Park Foundation and its donors are honored to be among the community of supporters bringing this important element of the park to life.”

This project is the third of four total construction phases. The first phase replaced the shingled roof on the Administration Clock Tower Building, repaired the existing windows installed during the reconstruction and installed new windows in the remaining boarded up openings. That was followed by the recently completed IDNR site development planning to create a public park and other site enhancements. The final two phases will conclude with building a visitor center with interior exhibits and the site remediation and construction. For more information, please visit the project website.

The district was named a national monument on Feb. 19, 2015, making it part of the National Park System. While the NPS owns the Administration Clock Tower Building, the State of Illinois IDNR owns and operates the adjacent 12-acre grounds including the remaining buildings and historic Hotel Florence as Pullman State Historic Site. The site is at the northeast corner of 111th Street and Cottage Grove Avenue. Visit the monument website for more details.

www.nps.gov