The 21st Show

Best of: The civil rights legacy behind one of Illinois’ new national parks

The civil rights legacy behind one of Illinois' new national parks
 
Part of the 1910 iron fence stands in front of the Pullman Clock Tower and Administration building in the Pullman neighborhood of Chicago. Supporters of the revitalization of Chicago's historic Pullman neighborhood say they have the money for more restoration work, five years after then-President Barack Obama designated part of the area as a national monument. A central part of the restoration is the Pullman Clock Tower and Administration building, which will convert into a visitors center.

Part of the 1910 iron fence stands in front of the Pullman Clock Tower and Administration building in the Pullman neighborhood of Chicago. Supporters of the revitalization of Chicago's historic Pullman neighborhood say they have the money for more restoration work, five years after then-President Barack Obama designated part of the area as a national monument. A central part of the restoration is the Pullman Clock Tower and Administration building, which will convert into a visitors center. Charles Rex Arbogast/AP, file

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Pullman National Historical Park can be found in the South Side of Chicago. Built in the 1880s, it was the first planned industrial community in the country. For many years, it’s where the famous Pullman sleeping cars were made, and the Pullman strike that broke out there in 1894 marked a key moment in the history of labor movements in the U-S. The experiences of the area’s Black communities – especially the thousands of men hired over the years as Pullman porters – are also part of that history, and of the history of the civil rights movement. The area was designated as a national monument in 2015 and late last year, President Biden signed legislation redesignating it as a national park.

To talk about the area and its legacy, The 21st was joined by the assistant superintendent of the park and a regional director of the National Parks Conservation Association.

This conversation originally aired March 8, 2023.

GUESTS:

Sue Bennett

Assistant Superintendent, Pullman National Historical Park

Lynn McClure 

Midwest Senior Regional Director, National Parks Conservation Association

 

 

 

Prepared for web by Owen Henderson

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