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Pullman visitors delight in new spring flowers popping up all across the national park / PHOTO: Friends of Pullman

From the Executive Director



The big news is that Pullman NHP will have a new Superintendent later this month! Please see the article below to learn more. By now, you also know we changed our name to Friends of Pullman National Historical Park. The more time I spend here, the more I understand what that name truly reflects–and this spring, we are celebrating it with you.


You have always been a friend to Pullman. You fought to preserve the historic buildings when it would have been easier to walk away. You helped fund the exhibits and programs that bring this history to life. You volunteer your time because Pullman's uniquely American stories deserve to be shared. You give when we ask, and sometimes when we don't. You walked through the town, felt inspired, and keep coming back.


That is what a Friend of Pullman looks like. And we are so proud to carry that name–because it has always been yours. However you found your way here–you are a Friend of Pullman National Historical Park.


Today we are kicking off our Spring Friends Campaign–and we are asking you to be part of it. 


Your support is what makes this work possible. It funds the preservation, the programs, and the unexpected moments–like the student who arrives never having heard of Pullman, spends a day here curious and full of questions, and leaves with a broadened understanding of their city and their country. You make those moments happen. And there are more of them waiting.


We have always been Friends of Pullman, together. Now it is official–and the best way to celebrate is to keep doing what friends do. Support our Spring Friends Campaign today.


Thank you for everything you do to preserve and sustain Pullman National Historical Park–for this generation and the generations to come.



With much gratitude,

Peggy Parfenoff





P.S. A gift to Friends of Pullman makes you exactly that- a Friend. No matter the amount, your support is one of the most meaningful and direct ways to keep our park and its stories alive. Join us.


Meet the new

NPS Superintendent


We are excited to welcome Josh Wilks as the new Superintendent of Pullman National

Historical Park! Josh joins us in April, bringing nearly three decades of service

experience rooted in historic preservation, national partnerships, and community

Development.


Josh spent years managing historic preservation grant programs for the National Park Service, working closely with state, local, and tribal partners across the country– and more recently helped shape the policy and partnerships framework that supports parks and communities nationwide. It’s a background that aligns beautifully with the collaborative work at the heart of Pullman.


“I grew up in a small historic village in the Florida panhandle that was once a bustling lumber town where my family had lived and worked for generations,” Josh shared. “Pullman reminds me of that same sense of place and community–just on a much larger scale.”


Friends of Pullman National Historical Park looks forward to welcoming Josh and continuing to build on our partnership with the National Park Service as we preserve and amplify Pullman’s cultural heritage.


Please join us on Saturday, May 16 at 10 am at the Pullman Exhibit Hall for an informal reception welcoming Josh to Pullman. We’d love to see you there!


Beer delivery trucks were a common sight in the Pullman neighborhood/ PHOTO: Illinois Digital Archives

Spring programs are here

Stories, tours, and a Taste of Pullman


We’re excited to kick off our new program season on April 19th with Beer Stories from a Dry Town: Everyday Life in Pullman, a joint program presented by the Friends of Pullman and the Beer Culture Center. This special event begins with a short walking tour of Pullman, highlighting some of the often‑overlooked stories of everyday life from the 1910s through the 1930s. Then we’ll gather for a lively discussion of the Seipp Brewing Company and its impact on Chicago’s history, complete with a tasting of historic beers.


Beginning in May, we’re thrilled to relaunch our regular tour season. Join us on First Sunday Neighborhood Tours and our third Sunday Pullman Strike Tours, led by expert guides from the Illinois Labor History Society. If it’s been a while since you’ve joined us on a tour, or if it’s your first time, we invite you to rediscover Pullman as we explore its stories in the context of the 250th birthday of the United States.


Visit our website for details and tickets.


Events and Tours

Partner Event

The World of Container Gardening


Sunday, April 12th / 2pm


Join the University of Illinois Extension, Chicago Cook County Master Gardener Program as they discuss one of the hottest trends in gardening including choosing the right plants, simple design, and more.


DETAILS

Lunch & Learn

8 Decades of Private Cars


Thursday, April 16th / 12:15pm


Join guest speaker and renowned railroad historian David Duncan as he offers a detailed look at the majesty of Pullman’s later steel railcars.



DETAILS

Partner Event

Silvis Train Day &

Classic Car Show

Silvis, IL


Saturday, April 25th / 9am-4:30pm


Don’t miss this family-friendly event packed with excitement, delicious food, and unique experiences where our very own Executive Director, Peggy Parfenoff will be tabling and greeting visitorsbe sure to stop by and say hello!


DETAILS

Volunteers bring Pullman National Historical Park to life for thousands of visitors / PHOTO: Friends of Pullman

Share America's stories

Volunteers needed


Turn your passion into purpose by volunteering with Friends of Pullman National Historical Park. Welcome visitors, tell Pullman’s powerful stories, and help others discover Chicago’s first national park like you know it. No experience needed. Just curiosity, enthusiasm, and a love for sharing Pullman with the world.


As the official friends group for Pullman National Historical Park,

our mission is to preserve and protect its cultural heritage and amplify its uniquely American stories for current and future generations.

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