# Event Details - **Event Name**: Railroad Days at Pullman National Historical Park - Saturday 2026 - **Event Start and End Date**: Sat, 25 Jul, 2026 at 01:15 pm – Sat, 25 Jul, 2026 at 03:00 pm - **Event Description**: Celebrate 100 years of electric rail with historic Pullman railcars, a STEAM fair, and a weekend of family fun at Chicago's national park!About this Event? Railroad Days: An Electric CentennialCelebrating 100 Years of Electrified Rail & Innovation in ChicagoStep aboard history—and experience the future—at Railroad Days (RRD), a family-friendly celebration of trains, technology, and transformation at Pullman National Historical Park.Join us as we share this long-forgotten story!When the switch was flipped in 1926, Chicago's who's who of civic and business leaders celebrated with one of the largest multi-day events in the city's history. The electrification put Daniel Burnham's lakefront vision into action, cleaned Chicago's air, moved commuters faster and more safely than ever, and transformed South Shore service for riders coming in from Northwest Indiana. The Pullman-built cars that powered this new system didn't just change how people got around — they sparked explosive real estate development across the South Side and southern suburbs, turning prairies into thriving communities.One hundred years later, presented by Alstom and in cooperation with Metra and the Illinois Railway Museum, these historic cars are coming home. Step aboard the iconic cars and walk through a century of stories.Explore the deeper Pullman history, venture beyond the tracks on walking tours, and dive into a STEAM fair celebrating a century of electric innovation. Join Chicago broadcasting legend Geoffrey Baer as he talks with former Federal Railroad Administrator Joseph C. Szabo about Chicago's evolution as the mighty railroad capital of North America (Sunday only). There's live music sponsored by Goodman Theatre, rides on CPKC's Puffer Belly Express, face painting, and plenty more to discover.In Pullman, connect with the past, present, and future of rail, electricity, design, and infrastructure! https://cdn-az.allevents.in/events10/banners/58a04370-84ae-11f1-957f-f1f06462340d-rimg-w1200-h714-dc151516-gmir.jpg ✅ FREE Activities — No Ticket NeededSTEAM Fair — a city-wide celebration of a century of electric innovationModern rail & transit exhibitsInteractive Model Train exhibitsHands-on demos with engineers, historians, artists & makersCPKC 's Puffer Belly — ride a model steam train (ADA accessible)Historian Ken Schoon on the Pullman story (Greenstone Church, 1 p.m)Broadcasting legend Geoffrey Baer & former Federal Railroad Administrator Joseph Szabo discuss the new WTTW show, "Riding the Rails" (Sunday, Greenstone Church, 3 p.m.Live music sponsored in part by the Goodman TheaterFactory Grounds Tour — discover what this extraordinary building once made, led by State of Illinois employeesArts & Maker Fair at the Block House Gallery — a free partner event?️ One Ticket. Four Unforgettable Experiences.Your ticket gets you inside the history — literally.? Historic Railcar Tour — Step inside the only surviving 1926 Illinois Central electric commuter cars. Timed entry; specific to your ticketed day and time.? Three Guided Walking Tours (~20 min. each, valid both days):Pullman Neighborhood — America's most ambitious company town, block by blockRoaring Pullman — Bootleg stories from from Pullman in the 1920s and '30sPullman Strike — The 1894 labor uprising that changed American workers' rights forever https://cdn-az.allevents.in/events6/banners/58c7efb0-84ae-11f1-8a8c-3fe57d70e589-rimg-w1131-h740-dc181416-gmir.jpg ?️ Historic Rail Car Tour TicketsTicket prices increase as the event approaches—plan ahead and save!? Ticket PricingEarly Bird | $15 Available May 1 – June 30Advance | $20 Available July 1 – July 24Day-Of | $25 Available July 25 & 26, during Railroad DaysEarly Bird and Advance tickets offer the best value and are strongly encouraged, as tour capacity is limited.?‍?‍?‍? Children’s Tickets (Important!)Children under 12 are FREE, but must have a ticket to participate in the Historic Rail Car Tour.Free child tickets must be added during checkout alongside a ticketed adult.?️ Rain or ShinePullman Railroad Days happen rain or shine. All ticket sales are final—no refunds. https://cdn-az.allevents.in/events2/banners/58f149a0-84ae-11f1-a0f0-b3fc05930e16-rimg-w1171-h740-dcd5d6db-gmir.jpg ? Who Should Attend?Families with kids of all agesRail and transit enthusiastsHistory lovers and preservation fansSTEAM-curious students and educatorsNational park and urban exploration fansAnyone who enjoys learning how things work https://cdn-az.allevents.in/events8/banners/591c7850-84ae-11f1-8a8c-3fe57d70e589-rimg-w1053-h740-dc13161a-gmir.jpg History this rich deserves to be experienced in person. We'll see you in Pullman.? Getting Here Accessible by Metra, CTA, and I-94 (Dan Ryan and Bishop Ford expressways). Street parking is available; the Exhibit Hall lot is reserved for ADA parking. Accessible rail car boarding at 115th Street. https://cdn-az.allevents.in/events10/banners/593b9910-84ae-11f1-8a8c-3fe57d70e589-rimg-w1200-h666-dc191715-gmir.jpg https://cdn-az.allevents.in/events9/banners/5968c390-84ae-11f1-a0f0-b3fc05930e16-rimg-w1200-h658-dcbdab95-gmir.jpg https://cdn-az.allevents.in/events10/banners/598c7830-84ae-11f1-a0f0-b3fc05930e16-rimg-w1200-h183-dcffffff-gmir.jpg Agenda?: 09:30 AM - 03:30 PMCheck-In tables open - convert your will call ticket to a wristband. ?: 10:00 AM - 04:30 PMRailcars open for Tours! Host: Thank you to our partner Illinois Railway Museum.Info: Tour the historic cars and learn how electricity changed the way we travel. When new, these cars replaced aged steam locomotives on the suburban line south of Chicago. Tours take about 30 minutes, and a timed ticket is required. ?: 10:00 AM - 03:00 PMWalking tours of Pullman Neighborhood Info: Sample our regular tours in 20-minute teasers. Tour: An Introduction to Pullman NeighborhoodHost: Friends of PullmanInfo: Learn about Pullman, the man, town planning, and the early days of the Pullman Company in this mini version of the regular First Sunday Neighborhood Tour. Tour Times: 10 AM, 12 PM, 1 PM, and 3 PM. Departs from the southeast corner of Arcade ParkTour: Roaring PullmanHost: Friends of Pullman Info: Explore some of the ways Pullman residents bent or broke the laws while they built these pioneering Pullman Cars. Tour Times: 10:30 AM, 12:30 PM, 1:30 PM, and 3:30 PM. Departs from the southeast corner of Arcade Park.Tour: Pullman’s Electric Car Builders Host: Illinois Department of Natural ResourcesInfo: The Pullman State Historic Site will offer short, guided tours that begin at the Pullman Car Works’ Main Gate on 111th at St. Lawrence. Attendees will briefly “meet” the car builders who built the electric-powered coaches of 1922-1931 for the Chicago Aurora & Elgin Railroad, the Lackawanna, the Illinois Central, the South Shore Line, the North Shore Line, and the Indiana Railroad. The tours are a free, concurrent program run by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. Tours are offered at 11:00 AM and 2:00 PM.Tour: The Strike of 1894Host: Illinois Labor History Society Info: This tour highlights some of the efforts of workers involved in the historic 1894 strike and how it affected the people who built and rode in these cars. Tour Times: 11:30 AM and 2:30 PM. Departs from the southeast corner of Arcade Park?: 10:00 AM - 04:00 PMSTEAM Fair Info: Join us at the STEAM fair featuring interactive, hands-on activities, live demonstrations, and creative explorations in science, technology, engineering, arts, and math for all ages.?: 10:00 AM - 04:00 PMRide Puffer Belly ExpressHost: CPKCInfo: CPKC’s award-winning Puffer Belly Express is a 1⁄4 scale model of a real steam locomotive, tender car, passenger car, and caboose. It has an authentic train bell, a smoke machine to simulate steam, a stereo system, and a bubble machine. Its focus is to raise awareness of the importance of being safe at railway crossings and around tracks and trains.?: 11:00 AM - 03:00 PMModel A Car Display?: 11:00 AM - 03:00 PMMusic - Live Band!Host: QomboInfo: Great sounds, great vibes, and a perfect soundtrack for Railroad Days.?: 11:00 AM - 03:00 PMFood TrucksInfo: Delicious eats on wheels—perfect fuel for a day at Railroad Days. ?: 01:00 PM - 01:30 PMTalk: Man, The Company, and the Historical ParkHost: Dr. Ken SchoonInfo: Join Dr. Schoon as he discusses the life of George Pullman and the history of the company and this town that he created. Dr. Ken Schoon is a lifelong resident of the Calumet Area. He is a founding board member and past president of the Dunes Environmental Learning Center, an advisor to the Shirley Heinze Land Trust, and a member of the IU Northwest Science Olympiad steering committee. He is a member of the Friends of the Indiana Dunes and the Friends of Pullman National Historical Park. His published works include Calumet Beginnings, Dreams of Duneland, City Trees, and Pullman: The Man, the Company, the Historical Park. His work on Calumet Beginnings resulted in the Indiana Historical Society granting him the Dorothy Riker Hoosier Historian Award. His books are available at the Pullman Visitor Center and here at the Exhibit Hall. - **Event URL**: https://allevents.in/chicago/railroad-days-at-pullman-national-historical-park-saturday-2026/100001988245992285 - **Event Categories**: music, live-music, art, entertainment, science-fair, food-drinks, fine-arts, theatre, trips-adventures, kids - **Slot details of has slots**: - **Interested Audience**: - total_interested_count: 1 - **Event Highlights**: - Age Limit: under_16_with_guardian - Duration: 7 hours 30 minutes - Location: Pullman Exhibit Hall - Languages: English ## Ticket Details - **Ticket Price Range**: min: 0, max: 28.52, currency: USD ## Event venue details - **city**: Chicago - **state**: IL - **country**: United States - **location**: Pullman Exhibit Hall - **lat**: 41.6913381 - **long**: -87.60967649999999 - **full address**: Pullman Exhibit Hall, 11141 South Cottage Grove Avenue, Chicago, United States ## Event gallery - **Alt text**: Railroad Days at Pullman National Historical Park - Saturday 2026 - **Image URL**: https://cdn-az.allevents.in/events3/banners/9889414d769e3f2a6acf8efd9f4639f4f74096a2b4cda9b525ca3df2b9b3ef39-rimg-w1200-h600-dc000000-gmir.jpg?v=1777638738 ## FAQs - **Q**: When and where is Railroad Days at Pullman National Historical Park - Saturday 2026 being held? - **A:** Railroad Days at Pullman National Historical Park - Saturday 2026 takes place on Sat, 25 Jul, 2026 at 01:15 pm to Sat, 25 Jul, 2026 at 03:00 pm at Pullman Exhibit Hall, 11141 South Cottage Grove Avenue, Chicago, United States. - **Q**: Who is organizing Railroad Days at Pullman National Historical Park - Saturday 2026? - **A:** Railroad Days at Pullman National Historical Park - Saturday 2026 is organized by Historic Pullman Foundation and the Pullman Civic Organization. - **Q**: Who is this event for? Is it right for me? - **A:** Railroad Days at Pullman National Historical Park - Saturday 2026 is ideal for festival lovers, culture enthusiasts, and anyone looking for a vibrant, immersive community experience. Whether you're a first-time attendee or a longtime enthusiast in Chicago, this event is thoughtfully curated to deliver a standout experience worth every moment. 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