Visitors are invited to experience the Historic Pullman Porter’s Exhibit at the Bruce R. Watkins Cultural Heritage Center in Kansas City. The collection, which will be on display at the center until April 30, was assembled to document specific social events, important concepts and historical moments in the history of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters union.
The exhibit chronicles the historic contributions of A. Philip Randolph and the Pullman Porters. The story of these great men and what they stood for is often told within the context of American railroad history, yet the real impact of their lives and mission far exceeds the railroad industry. Beginning with the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863, the exhibit highlights important events in the following 100 years to the 1963 March on Washington, touching on the many stories of African-American participation in U.S. railroad history.
Each exhibit panel tells a part of the story of this unique history. The images are grouped chronologically and are representative of each time period.
Bruce R. Watkins Cultural Heritage Center, which is operated and funded in partnership with Missouri State Parks and the City of Kansas City, Missouri Parks and Recreation Department, is located at 3700 Blue Parkway in Kansas City. For more information about the event, call the center at 816-513-0700. For more information on state parks and historic sites, visit mostateparks.com. Missouri State Parks is a division of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.