Pullman

Pullman is yet another South Side neighborhood. In fact, it is amongst the furthest South. This means that you won't have a particularly fast commute to the loop or any North Side neighborhood. Plus, as far as activities go, there isn't a whole lot of entertainment in Pullman. But all in all, if you don't mind a short drive, this is a very attractive neighborhood to live in for a variety of reasons.

There are definitely some very interesting things about Pullman. First of all, there is very interesting architecture. Some people in Pullman have done restorations on their older homes. This neighborhood even hosts walking tours, which point out the significant buildings and historic homes. When the area was built, it was viewed as a sort of model community. Now the "Pullman Historic District" serves as somewhat of a time capsule.

Due to the interesting architecture, some movies have been shot in Pullman. For example, the Road to Perdition with Tom Hanks showcased a lot of the local buildings. If you are visiting the city, it is well worth the drive to check out this unique place.

This is a pretty quiet neighborhood without a lot of action. In fact, it seems to be much safer than the other South Side neighborhoods.

Pullman is on the far southwest side of Chicago, and is like its own little city. Of course, that makes sense because that’s what it started out as. It was built in the late 1800s by the railroad baron George Pullman for the workers of his Palace Railroad Car Company to live in. It was meant to be a model community, and the houses were much nicer than anything else workers would have lived in at the time.

Today, there’s not a whole lot going on in Pullman besides the history. It’s a nice, quiet neighborhood and is really cool to walk around. Almost ALL of the homes and buildings that were built as part of the original Pullman are still there. Which is pretty impressive, considering how much of the rest of the city has been torn down at some point or another. There are a few factory buildings and a church that are also still there. I believe they do guided tours of the ‘town’ too.

One strange thing about Pullman is there is NOTHING to eat there! If you’re visiting or living there you have to go to other neighborhoods to go to a restaurant. There’s plenty nearby, but Pullman itself doesn’t have much.

Pullman is a historical neighborhood that was developed to accommodate workers new to the city. Since then Pullman has been through several different stages of economic glory and decline, but today it is a perfectly acceptable neighborhood to call home. It has, for the most part, escaped the South side curse and crime hasn't taken hold of the neighborhood. Tourists flock to check out the historical district which keeps the police out and order in place. Add in those tourists frequenting local businesses and Pullman has done well to leverage its history to keep it well maintained and safe.

The residential area offers well-maintained, quiet streets where young families can set up shop and get started. While it is accessible by bus and public transportation it is a bit of a hall to more popular areas so those looking for a crazy nightlife might want to look elsewhere.

The Pullman neighborhood, located on the city’s far south side, got its name from George Pullman – the father of the “Pullman Railcar”, and the community he established for his employees back in the 1880s. This was no ramshackle town of one room shacks. All had running water, indoor plumbing and gas lighting – amenities that were considered luxuries in those days, especially for the laborers who occupied them. Most of the homes and apartment buildings were built between 1880 and 1885, and 95% of them are still standing and owner-occupied.

Today, George Pullman’s city within a neighborhood is a designated landmark historical district that attracts hundreds of tourists and visitors every year. This historic district boasts of having the country’s first African American labor history museum.

The surrounding residential streets are quaint, tree-lined, and picturesque. The area is easily accessible by CTA buses and the Metra Electric commuter rail line, as well as the I-94 expressway, and only about 15 minutes from the Loop.

Pullman is one of the more famous Chicago Neighborhoods. It started as a planned community for factory workers, and has since developed into a mostly residential area with a lot of history and some very nice homes that won’t break the bank.

There are a number of tours through Pullman, one of which I had to go on when I was in school. I don’t remember being all that thrilled at the time, but I was in middle school, so I wouldn’t have been thrilled with any historical tour. Not a big fan of them now, either, but it is interesting and does give an idea to the type of atmosphere you’ll find in Pullman. A number of buildings are historically valuable to the city, and it’s pretty cool to walk the streets and see sites that have been around for such a long time. At least it’s more interesting than another Starbucks on every corner.

One place definitely worth visiting is the Greenstone Church, which has been in the neighborhood since the beginning. My dad used to tell me about the organ, which is one of the few of its kind left in the US. Certainly not something you’ll get elsewhere.

Outside of the history, there isn’t a lot of really interesting things in Pullman, there are a few nice places to eat, like the Cal Harbor Restaurant and Lounge, where you can get good diner style food. I wouldn’t recommend Pullman for the nightlife, which outside of a few bars isn’t anything special.

There isn’t much shopping either, but I don’t think that’s why people come to Pullman. Obviously, the history is here, but the houses are also fairly affordable, and many look pretty nice. I wouldn’t say it’s an upscale neighborhood, but you could do a lot worse if you were looking for a place to live. Who knows? Maybe all the history will inspire you to make some yourself.