Imagine this, your entire city has just burned to the ground, everything you know is gone,
but you want to bring it back, you want to replace the devastation by creating happy
memories.
Hi everyone, Ken here, welcome to this house.
Today we are exploring the home of George Pullmam in Chicago, Illinois.
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house.
After the Great Chicago Fire, several millionaires set out to rebuild Chicago from the ashes.
One of these millionaires was George Pullman.
He was an innovator and engineer.
He built an entire town, which he would name Pullman, to manufacture his Pullman Sleeping
Cars, also known as Palace Cars.
These would act as hotel rooms on wheels with sleeping quarters, dining rooms, and kitchens
for passengers traveling across the country.
This innovation in travel accommodations made him a fortune.
In 1872 He set out to build his dream house, finding a lot on the corner of Prairie and
Eighteenth street.
At the time, it was the most expensive residential lot to ever be purchased in Chicago at a price
of 500 dollars per front facing foot, or the modern day equivalent of about 11,000 dollars
per foot.
He hired architect henry S Jaffray to design his second empire style palace.
Henry had worked in the offices of Richard Morris Hunt, the choice architect of the Vanderbilt
family and was familiar with the expectations of the barons of industry.
The influence of his earlier career would become evident in the design of the house.
The façade would be clad in Connecticut brownstone, the same material used on the Vanderbilt’s
Triple Palace in Manhattan.
It would measure 108 feet by 70 feet, with each floor boasting over 7000 square feet
of living space, all combined giving the house an astounding 22,680 square feet.
The mansion would be surrounded by a meticulously maintained lawn and receive guests through
a massive port cochere.
Once inside, the spectacle of opulence ensued.
The walls were covered in rich mahogany and intricately carved by artists.
Every room following the entrance hall was more grand than the last.
From the reception room to a 200 seat theatre.
The home was the mecca of entertainment with billiards and a bowling alley.
Circulating about, you would have found a lavish library and a conservatory to bask
in the morning light.
But there was one room in particular that overshadowed the rest, the very center of
entertainment in this house, the drawing room.
The Tribune reported that “ “in point of location, size, and architecture, it surpasses
any room of its kind in Chicago, whether public or private” The room was gilded with gold
leaf set against inlaid ivory, the drawing room ushering in a new era of opulence to
Chicago as it would now formally enter the gilded age.
It was said that the home of the Pullmans was “forever ablaze with party lights”
with soirees, banquets, dinners, and balls being hosted several times per week.
The Pullmans spoiled their guests and filled their home with friends and family as often
as possible, often entertaining 400 or more guests.
All this house was not enough for one event the Pullmans had planned – their daughter’s
wedding.
George had a massive addition added to the northeast corner of the estate.
It would include a new library, billiard rooms, and a palm room with a 400 foot glass dome
soaring overhead.
From here, new terraces clad in marble would spill onto the lawn.
Wanting only the best for his daughter’s special day, he had the entire house redecorated.
All together, the renovations for the wedding cost 100,000 dollars, or the modern day equivalent
of about 3 and a half million dollars.
The wedding went off without a hitch, being one of, if not the most, beautiful ceremonies
to ever take place in Chicago.
The joy would not last long.
In 1897, George suffered a fatal heart attack.
His widow would continue to live in the house part time as she would rotate around the country
living in her various vacation homes.
She passed away in 1921, leaving the home to her children who would claim much of the
artwork and furniture before putting the rest up to auction.
The house, however, did not sell and was demolished in 1922.
With the gold coast neighborhood now established as the prominent spot for chicagos elites,
Prairie street was undesirable.
In 1941, the lot was finally redeveloped to be used as a bus depot, but that would be
demolished again in the year 2000.
Today, the neighborhood has swung back to prominence with upscale town homes and a luxury
condominium building now occupying the lot.
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