by William Eric McFadden
From the park website:
-
In a growing Chicago neighborhood, diverse people and stories intertwined. All were seeking opportunity. Some succeeded. Others were limited—by race, gender, or economic status. Their stories came together in Pullman, a planned industrial community famed for its urban design and architecture.
Pictures
- The park sign
- Eric's station
- The Clock Tower / Visitor Center, viewed from the east | south-west
- Front Erecting Shops, North Wing
- Rear Erecting Shops
Description
On Monday, March 10, 2025, one member of the Southeast Ohio Radio Adventure Team performed a successful activation of Pullman National Historical Park (US-7917) in Illinois as part of the Parks on the Air (POTA; link) program.
Upon arriving in the Chicago area for a work conference, and after a successful activation of William W. Powers State Recreation Area, Eric McFadden, WD8RIF, performed an activation of the nearby Pullman National Historical Park. Eric was accompanied by his wife, Vickie.
The park sign and the Clock Tower Building.
The Pullman National Historical Park is closed on Mondays but the grounds remain open. Upon arriving at the unoccupied Visitor Center parking lot, Eric selected an out-of-the-way parking space and deployed his 28½' end-fed random wire antenna as a vertical supported by a 31' Jackite telescoping fiberglass mast in a drive-on base. Because of seriously strong winds, he chose to operate inside his car. Mounting his Elecraft KX2 on the car's passenger-side dashboard, Eric was on the air at 2048 UTC.
Eric's station in front of the Clock
Tower Building / Visitor Center.
Notice the flags standing straight out.
As expected in an urban environment, Eric had good cell-signal and would be able to spot himself on POTA Spots (link) and to use POTA Spots to identify possible park-to-park (P2P) QSO opportunities.
Eric began his operation on 20m. Finding himself a clear frequency to run, Eric began calling "CQ POTA" and self-spotted himself on POTA Spots. His first QSO came at 2053 UTC with KM3STU in New Jersey. QSOs came very quickly, with Eric's fourteenth QSO coming at 2106 UTC with KB5FOG in Oklahoma. This run included QSOs with operators located in Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Louisiana, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, and Washington.
In all, Eric made fourteen QSOs in about eighteen minutes of on-air time. All of Eric's QSOs were CW and were made with five watts output.
Following his operation, Eric took the opportunity to make a quick walking tour of the grounds.
The Clock Tower Building / Visitor Center
as viewed from the east.
The Clock Tower Building / Visitor Center
as viewed from the south-west.
The Front Erecting Shops, North Wing.
The remains of the Rear Erecting Shops.
(return)