Back Story:The Freedom Rides Museum Newly Restored Bus

 

Tim Lennox photo

There has been no shortage of coverage here in Montgomery about the Freedom Rides Museum restored Greyhound bus.

But I came across a story in the Minneapolis Minnesota Star Tribune today about the work that went into turning the old bus into the museum display it is today. That's because the Greyhound Bus Museum in there, as are the companies that restored it:

(Museum Director Dorothy)  "...Walker's dogged research also discovered ABC Cos., a family-owned business in Faribault that specializes in motor coach and bus repairs. Costs of the restoration were covered by a donor who worked with the museum.

ABC's Operations Manager Pat Wolff, who led the restoration, said his first impression of the decrepit Greyhound bus was: Wow, what a flashback.

"The shell was there, but most of the panels were corroded, it hadn't run for years, most of the inside was completely gutted out," he said. "It was torn apart and forgotten."

 

The restored bus (Tim Lennox photo)

The driver's seat (Tim Lennox photo)

 

 

 

 

 

The exterior (Tim Lennox Photo)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Read the Full Star Tribune Story HERE. 

 

The restored bus was escorted to the museum by Montgomery police. Ironic, since the original bus with Freedom Riders inside was attacked by the KKK when Montgomery police looked the other way in 1961.