Venue Information

Originally built in 1904, by Pratt Engineering; The site was home to the manufacturing of fertilizer bombs during WWI and the patenting of liquid carbonated gasses which was purchased by a then start up, The Coca Cola Company. In 1922, The Pullman Company purchased and expanded the site. Pullman, renowned for luxurious rail travel across the country, hired African American men as Porters servicing rail car passengers. The Brotherhood of the Sleeper Car Porters, was the first organized African American labor union and was instrumental in the civil rights movement.