Superb, The
Also known as: Los Angeles; Pope Pius XI; Business Car 101; Business Car 301
Why it's listed
Built by Pullman in 1911, the Superb is a private railroad car of the type known as a heavyweight. It has a riveted carbon steel body, six-wheel trucks, a clerestory roof, and a concrete floor over wire mesh. Inside are an observation lounge, five private rooms, a porter's compartment, and a kitchen and pantry, with the floor plan largely intact. The car was listed for its role in transportation and engineering history as a rare early all-steel passenger car, at a time when most passenger cars were still wooden. It is also tied to politics. In 1923 it was the last car of President Warren G. Harding's ten-car special on his transcontinental speaking tour. After Harding died in San Francisco, it carried his casket to Washington, D.C., and then to Marion, Ohio, for burial. Later used as a business car, it was donated to the Southeastern Railway Museum in 1969, and it now sits indoors at the museum in Duluth.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is a rare early all-steel passenger car and an excellent example of a private-type heavyweight car (Criteria A and C). It is also tied to President Warren G. Harding (Criterion B), as the last car of his 1923 "Voyage of Understanding" train and the funeral car that carried his casket from San Francisco to Washington and then to Marion, Ohio.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 98001560, listed March 9, 1999. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 3595 S. Old Peachtree Rd., Duluth |
|---|---|
| County | Gwinnett County |
| Listed | March 9, 1999 |
| Reference number | 98001560 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | 1911 to 1923 |
| Architect / builder | Pullman Company/builder |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Transportation, Engineering, Politics/Government |
| Level of significance | National |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Housed on tracks in a large protective building at the Southeastern Railway Museum; the car itself is unchanged by the museum's move. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 33.98874, -84.15558 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 98001560.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7767471
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.