Planned communities have seen their fortunes rise and fall over the past century or so, and places such as Celebration, Florida seem to represent a more benign form of community planning. Of course, a century or so ago, there was a real belief that planned industrial communities could knit a fabric of work, family, and efficiency. One of these communities was the town of Pullman, located south of Chicago. The Pullman State Historic Site webpage provides information about visiting what remains of this community, along with their research facilities and their virtual museum. The site includes sections dedicated to the town's founder, George Pullman ("The Man"), "The Town", "The People", "The Company", and "Labor & Race". "The Pullman Company" area provides a detailed essay on the company's history and on some of its key products, like the legendary Pullman sleeping car. The "House Histories" area provides information on who lived or worked in the town of Pullman during the early 20th century. Finally, the "Images" area provides historic photographs of the company plant, surrounding houses, and workers.
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