Beer Stories from a Dry Town: Everyday Life in Historic Pullman. at Pullman Exhibit Hall – Chicago, IL

Pullman was designed to be sober, orderly, and respectable. George Pullman believed that eliminating alcohol would help create a productive, morally upright industrial community. But beer, and the culture around it, existed alongside the town from the very beginning.

Join us for a 21+ experience that blends neighborhood storytelling, a short guided tour, and a beer tasting from one of Chicago’s most famous breweries. Together, the Friends of Pullman, Seipp Beer, and the Beer Culture Center will explore how workers navigated company rules, where they went for leisure, and what beer reveals about everyday life in a tightly controlled industrial town.

Whether you’re discovering Pullman for the first time or seeing a familiar place through a new lens, this interactive program invites conversation, curiosity, and connection.

This program is co-hosted by the Friends of Pullman and the Beer Culture Center.

To learn more about the Beer Culture Center, visit their web page at: https://www.beerculturecenter.org/

Make the Most of Your Visit

Extend your visit with a stop at Pullman National Historical Park’s visitor center. Free entry, open Wednesday – Sunday, 10 am-4 pm. Explore exhibits, meet a Park Ranger, stamp your park passport, or even get sworn in as a Junior Ranger!

Step back in time at the Pullman House Project. Explore an original 1880s executive home and a worker’s cottage preserved just as it looked in 1960. Grab a coffee or pastry at the Pullman Club Coffee Shop and discover exhibits about everyday life in this remarkable community.

Feeling inspired by your time in Pullman? You can help keep Pullman’s story alive by supporting the Friends of Pullman, the official philanthropic partner for Pullman National Historical Park, Chicago’s first National Park. Your contribution powers our mission to preserve, interpret, and share this remarkable chapter of American history.

Together, we can ensure Pullman’s story continues to inspire future generations!