. . . and leave the driving to them North Americans will likely recognise that somewhat truncated jingle. For decades, if you didn’t drive or had no rail stations nearby, Greyhound was your solution. If it doesn’t ring a bell, here is the history. The history of Greyhound Lines is essentially the history of intercity bus travel in North America. It grew from a single seven-passenger car to an iconic American corporation that has connected every corner of the United States, often serving as a lifeline for small towns.
The First Route: Wickman was a Hupmobile car salesman who couldn’t sell his first seven-passenger car. Instead of letting it sit, he began using it to transport iron ore miners the two miles between Hibbing and the nearby town of Alice for 15 cents a ride. He made $2.25 on his first run. Cross-Country Travel: Greyhound became synonymous with affordable travel, connecting the East and West coasts. The 1934 movie It Happened One Night (starring Clark Gable and Claudette Colbert) featured a cross-country bus trip, often credited with dramatically boosting ridership. Which brings us to this day and this post. We’re really pleased that Greyhound have asked Matouring to join as one of their affiliates, which, of course, we’ll gladly take part.
The Scenicruiser (1954–1956): This revolutionary double-decker, deck-and-a-half bus was designed exclusively for Greyhound. It featured air ride suspension, a restroom, air conditioning, and a raised viewing platform for passengers, setting the standard for intercity buses for decades. The Freedom Rides: In 1961, civil rights activists known as the Freedom Riders used Greyhound and Trailways buses to challenge segregation laws in the South. This led to famous, and often violent, confrontations, highlighting the issue of segregation to the nation and forcing federal intervention. No matter how you see it, bus travel can be a delight, and in the USA there is really only one choice, and that’s Greyhound. And it’s a good one. Click here
One of the benefits of that day and age and that desire to stand out, you will see buildings like this (Cleveland Ohio Bus station) is stelar construction, desire to impress and a positive look forward. Thanks, Greyhound!
Built in 1948, this Streamline Moderne-style building was designed by William Strudwick Arrasmith to serve as a Bus Station for Greyhound. The building is clad in limestone with aluminum trim, including several horizontal trim bands, enameled blue and black panels, curved corners, ribbon windows, a large blade sign with a clock bearing the name
“Greyhound” in neon Art Deco lettering, an aluminum canopy over the main entrance, stucco cladding on the rear wings, a low-slope roof enclosed by a parapet, aluminum flagpoles, glass block, canopies at the bus platforms, and a heavily modified interior. The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1999. The building has served as a Greyhound Bus Station for its entire existence, but was sold in 2023, with plans by Greyhound to vacate the facility for a new location. The future of the building is presently unknown. Ready to take to the road USA style? Choose Greyhound. Click here
Buses are a huge part of many countries. Want to learn more? Click here