The Pullman Porters: A Tribute to Juneteenth Exhibit at Galveston Railroad Museum

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The exhibit on Pullman Porters, tells the extraordinary story of human resilience, tenacity, and fortitude that laid the ground for future generations and had a profound impact on the railroad and American history. In addition, the film Rising from the Rails will be shown in the auditorium June 1 – June 30, every 90 minutes beginning at 11 am daily. The book of the same title, Rising from the Rails, by Larry Tye, is available in the museum store. 2602 Santa Fe Place.

Pullman Porters, primarily African American men, served passengers aboard luxury railroad sleeping cars. The accompanying film documentary, Rising from the Rails, is a vivid example of the tenacity, punishing working hours, and conditions that led to the founding of the first African American union.

In addition to the recorded oral history interview with Mr. George Lewis, the last Pullman Porter, the exhibit tells the story of the founder of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters, Asa Philip Randolph, who was an American labor unionist and civil rights activist. Under his leadership Congress amended the Railway Labor Act to specifically cover workers in sleeping cars and won a collective bargaining agreement and contract with Pullman that recognized the union, reduced porters’ monthly work hours and raised wages.

The film documentary titled Rising from the Rails will be shown throughout each day. A companion book written by NY Times bestselling author Larry Tye with the same title, Rising from the Rails, is available for purchase in the museum store.

A testimony from the museum’s Oral History Program supported by the Dr. Leon Bromberg Charitable Trust, Legacies of the Railroad, will be shown in the train depot. The interview is with Valida Breakfield, the first African American, and one of the few female Amtrak engineers who paved the way for future generations to move through corporate ranks.