Dear Chicago Federation of Labor Affiliates,
The Historic Pullman Foundation and Pullman National Monument were selected by the National Trust for Historic Preservation to compete with 19 other well established National Parks for a share of $2 million dollars in preservation funding. The eight parks will the highest vote count will receive $250,000 each. For the Pullman National Monument Visitor Center, the money will be used for restoration work. The voting campaign is open now through July 5. You can vote every day! To vote, visit www.voteyourpark.org/pullman.
Pullman National Monument, Chicago, IL
Pullman National Monument is a testament to the American rail car industry, the rise of the labor movement, the lasting strength of good urban design, and the Pullman Porters’ struggle for unionization. Built in 1880, the Administration Building was designed as the focal point of the country’s first planned model industrial town. But today it sits vacant, waiting for new life as the Pullman National Monument Visitor Center. A $250,000 grant will help preserve the exterior as the building is transformed into a visitor center for the new National Monument—the perfect way for a symbol of American progress to welcome future generations to Pullman.
**********
Show YOUR UNION Pride, Support the Pullman Campaign
Support Pullman and win a free walking tour of the historic labor history sites of the Pullman Neighborhood and Factory. The Illinois Labor History Society will provide this tour to the one union organization, committee, caucus or local that shows the most creative support for the campaign for Pullman Fund Your Park. Ideas include:
- Take a photo with a sign reading vote Pullman wearing your union swag
- Create a video or a vine to get out the vote for Pullman
- Write a poem or a song about Pullman performed by your union members
- Get creative and tell us why YOUR UNION thinks Pullman, America’s labor history park, should win the Fund Your Park contest.
Submit your union’s entry to ilhs@prodigy.net. (If file is large to email, send an email and you will receive instructions on how to load into drop box or other means of delivery.) You can submit your union’s entry any time, between now and July 5. The best entries will be featured online as part of the campaign to get out the vote for Pullman. And the top entry will win a free tour of the Pullman National Monument.
Rules: All entries will be judged by ILHS. All decisions final. Winner will have to provide their own transportation to Pullman site on day of tour. Tour to be held in 2016.