Time Machines

At Glacier National Park, refurbished vintage White Motor Company touring buses became a distinctive tradition, carrying passengers along Going-to-the-Sun Road for nearly 70 years and setting a record for the longest continuous service of any fleet in the United States, and perhaps the world. Linked closely to the park's history and spirit, the bright red buses gave sightseers a way to experience Glacier's scenery and wildlife without the distraction of driving. By 1999, however, they were still operating on mostly 1930's technology, and safety concerns brought the fleet to a standstill. Ford Motor Company then advanced a plan to rehabilitate them with modern engineering, preserving a cultural treasure while making the buses safer, cleaner, more fuel efficient, and more comfortable. In June 2002, the restored buses returned for a new generation of travelers. Their revival followed a longer history of transportation in Glacier, where Great Northern Railway directors developed hotels and chalets throughout the park, visitors first traveled by rail, horseback, and stagecoach, and full-time motorized transportation began in the 1914 season as roads and vehicle technology improved.

East Glacier Park Village, Montana · United States