U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin sent a letter to President Barack Obama Friday requesting that he designate the South Side's Pullman neighborhood as Chicago's first National Park Unit.

“I support recognizing and sharing the story of industrialist George Pullman and the hard-working laborers who built a product that revolutionized railroad travel and helped to develop a strong working class,” wrote Durbin in the letter. “The Pullman site has been recognized as a National Historic Landmark District, an Illinois State Landmark, and a City of Chicago Landmark. Studies show that every dollar invested in national park operations generates ten dollars of local economic activity. Given this great potential, I urge you to use your authority under the Antiquities Act to write the final chapter for this national treasure and declare the Pullman Historic District a unit of the National Park Service.” 

Durbin also noted that such a distinction could bring more than 350 new jobs to the area, increase tourism, and inject some $40 million into the community each year. 

See the full letter below:

August 8, 2014

President Barack Obama
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20500

Dear President Obama:

I encourage you to use your authority under the Antiquities Act to designate a portion of the Pullman Historic District as a unit of the National Park System.  I support recognizing and sharing the story of industrialist George Pullman and the hard-working laborers who built a product that revolutionized railroad travel and helped to develop a strong working class.  This designation would create the first National Park unit in Chicago.

The future of America’s next great urban national park lies in the Pullman community’s storied past.  The Pullman site played an important role in African American and early Civil Rights history through the legacy of the Pullman Porters.  These enterprising men developed the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters, the first black union.

The Pullman site has been recognized as a National Historic Landmark District, an Illinois State Landmark, and a City of Chicago Landmark.  Last year, the National Park Service released a study that found Pullman was “conclusively nationally significant” as a historic site.  More than 100 different organizations have endorsed the creation of a National Park unit at Pullman, including city, county, and state parks officials; preservationist groups; labor organizations; and tourism advocates.  According to a study commissioned by the National Parks Conservation Association, a National Park unit at Pullman could bring 300,000 visitors each year and create 356 new jobs, providing $40 million annually to the community.  In 2012, national park visitors contributed more than $30 billion to local economies and supported more than 250,000 jobs.  Studies show that every dollar invested in national park operations generates ten dollars of local economic activity.

Given this great potential, I urge you to use your authority under the Antiquities Act to write the final chapter for this national treasure and declare the Pullman Historic District a unit of the National Park Service.  Accordingly, I encourage you and members of your Administration to engage in a discussion with the local community for the recognition, designation, and permanent protection of the roughly 13-acre administration/factory complex just north of East 111th Street in the Pullman Historic District. 

Thank you for your consideration of this request.

Sincerely,

RICHARD J. DURBIN
United States Senator