Greyhound bus terminals represented the democratic potential of American mobility. In towns, large and small, the galloping canine promised a ticket for anyone overcome by wanderlust. The depots also offered a meal, a haircut, a shoeshine, a magazine, and long benches for travelers waiting for the next boarding. Pretty much everyone in the 1940’s and 1950’s spent some time in a bus terminal.
The renowned Greyhound architect W. S. Arrasmith drew from Moderne motifs such as sweeping curves, porthole windows, and towering signage designed for the roving eye of the automobilist. Inexpensive motion and fluidity were the promise of Greyhound’s streamlined design.
You can still find a few Greyhound depots left standing, and fewer still that have been restored, but to recall their heyday, you must turn to the images of photographs, pamphlets, and postcards.