'Making Down: A Life of a Pullman Porter' Interpreting African-American History at Railroad Museums

This thesis presents what I feel is a practical solution to a problem with interpretation at American railroad museums. In spite of a long and well documented history, African-American railroaders are often given short shrift at railroad museums, and not just enthusiast organized and administered museums but large, seemingly professional institutions.;Section I of this thesis will review railroad museums, their interpretation and their visitors, as well as the broader railroad enthusiasts' community and how this community impacts railroad museum interpretation. I will use the B&O Railroad Museum in Baltimore, MD as a case study.;Section II will discuss African-American railroad history with a focus on Pullman porters, their union the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters and the contributions porters and union president A. Phillip Randolph made to the civil rights struggle.;Section III is the performance piece, with recommendation for props, costumes and suggestions for an appropriate venue.