To celebrate Pullman National Monument’s official designation and the National Park Conservation Association’s 100th anniversary, visitors received a one of a kind tour by train.
CHICAGO, IL – Today, the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) along with Metra and the National Park Service hosted more than 300 attendees on guided train tours from the Metra Millennium Station in Downtown Chicago to Pullman National Monument – one of the only national park sites nationwide accessible by commuter rail. Some visitors even received a ride on two Pullman railcars to mark the special occasion.
As participants in “Pullman by Train,” visitors had a chance to follow along in the history of the Pullman site from its start as an historic Chicago neighborhood to its official designation as a National Park Service Site by President Barack Obama in 2015. Since the designation, Pullman National Monument has received more than $100 million in investments to transit, roads, and a site redevelopment project to renovate the historic Clock Tower building and establish a visitor center and other enhancements for visitors and residents alike. During the tour, Metra announced plans to enhance the rail station next to the national monument.
“Metra was proud to partner in this event to showcase our commitment to connect Chicago residents to the city’s only national park site,” said Jim Derwinski, CEO of Metra. “Today we’ve announced a commitment to invest in station infrastructure at 111th Street making it easier for people from all walks of life to visit one of Chicago’s truly historic hidden treasures.”
The National Parks Conservation Association has led efforts since 2012 to establish the national monument and, with American Institute of Architects, lay out a vision for Pullman’s future in the award-winning ‘Positioning Pullman.’ “The goal for everyone involved with Pullman National Monument is to ensure that this great historic community-turned national monument has a bright future. By bringing more than 300 new visitors to Pullman through Pullman by Train, we showed that you can live in Chicago and have a national park experience,” according to Lynn McClure at the National Parks Conservation Association. “With continued investments, the grandeur of Pullman National Monument will greet many more Chicagoans to truly appreciate the role this site has played in the history of the labor movement and the railroad. We’re excited to continue our partnerships with Metra and the National Park Service to make this a truly world class site and a can’t miss stop for those visiting Chicago.”
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About National Parks Conservation Association: For 100 years, the nonpartisan National Parks Conservation Association has been the leading voice in safeguarding our national parks. NPCA and its more than 1.3 million members and supporters work together to protect and preserve our nation’s most iconic and inspirational places for future generations. For more information, visit www.npca.org/100
About Metra: Metra is one of the largest and most complex commuter rail systems in North America, serving Cook, DuPage, Will, Lake, Kane and McHenry counties in northeastern Illinois. The agency provides service to and from downtown Chicago with 242 stations over 11 routes totaling nearly 500 route miles and approximately 1,200 miles of track. Metra operates nearly 700 trains and provides nearly 300,000 passenger trips each weekday. Visit https://metrarail.com/
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