State officials have toyed with the idea of a transportation museum, but funding could be an issue. Its fate is in the Legislature's hands, Wagenbach says, but it could find another purpose, such as housing a research facility.

"It's the best of times and the worst of times to be doing institutional development," Wagenbach says. "We've been in an era of shrinking public resources, so that's a challenge, but on the other hand, it also gives us an opportunity to think creatively about a sustainable way of reusing the buildings."

• The Historic Pullman District is 14 miles from downtown Chicago, at 111th Street and Cottage Grove Avenue. Walking tours offered the first Sunday of the month from May through October.

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For more information: www.pullmanil.org/ or 773-785-8901 and www.pullman-museum.org or 773-660-2341.