The Rosa Parks Bus | The Henry Ford's Innovation Nation

Inside this bus on December 1, 1955, Rosa Parks, a soft-spoken African-American seamstress, refused to give up her seat to a white man, breaking existing segregation laws. The flawless character and quiet strength she exhibited successfully ignited action in others. For this, many believe Rosa Parks' act was the event that sparked the Civil Rights movement. The Rosa Parks Bus can be found on the floor of the Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation in Detroit, Michigan.

[@kio_gacha_dxo1119]

This helped my rosa parks assiment

[@mcswato1]

The photo of the officer taking fingerprints is from her second arrest in 1956. I believe.

[@marthajean50]

It would be great to put it on tour so it could be seen at museums around the country. Would make a great field trip.

[@Lily-in8ng]

This helped so much with my history assignment!!!!! WELL DONE

[@chrisj197438]

One person really can make a difference

[@WembyShesty]

God forbid you actually STUDIED instead of relying on TH-cam. 🤯

[@brianparent8901]

I went on the bus and it was overwhelming in my mind.

[@daltondick5223]

I had the pleasure of seeing the bus in person back in eighth grade. I always heard about Rosa Parks and I always looked up to her and what she did that day for equality. When I walked up to the bus and found out that it was the bus that this historic event happened on I was amazed and so happy that the museum was able to save it at the bus survived all these years. As a white person myself I would NEVER make anyone give up their seat because of race or anything else. Hard to believe it was a law but thank the lord that it isn’t one any longer. Thank you for everything you do and have saved from terrible fates so we can enjoy them forever!

[@matthewsallenback4343]

Her favorite seat look pretty much the same that’s remain all the years later.

[@danielboardman1551]

Rosa parkes is a legend!

[@florjanbrudar692]

Parks

[@florjanbrudar692]

I never knew the bus driver was armed.

[@LivelyStarKing]

Totally awesome!

[@rachelletanzil4963]

I sat on that bus at that museum

[@williej1722]

Rosa Parks is a hero. But Rosa Parks was chosen because she was light skinned, church going lady, and come from a good family. There was a darker skinned teenager that had some family issues that was the original one who had the bus issue.

[@WhoKnowPaper]

What is that teenager's name? Would you mind sharing?

[@williej1722]

Her name was Claudette Colvin

[@WhoKnowPaper]

@@williej1722 Thank You! All these people need to be remebered.

[@huskysfahjah]

I own a bus identical to the Rosa Parks bus that I am willing to donate to a legitimate organization that would complete my dream of having it be a traveling museum of sorts to educate people on the ongoing battle for civil rights and freedom of the press. It is complete except for a few seats. It was original to Los Angeles until retirement then driven to Oregon where it has been under cover for years. Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks for reading.
Craig

[@TheHenryFord]

Hi Craig - You can reach our Historical Resources team with your donation inquiry at [e-mail]. Thank you!

[@1p4142136]

How can we see pictures? And a little bit if the story of your bus. Thanks.

[@1p4142136]

@1:16 The bus driver was armed? As in he had a hand gun?

[@kennedybucco3707]

gonna use this in my presentation in english.

[@lvalledor3440]

I wonder if any knows the exact seat that Rosa Parks sat on when she refused to give it up for a white passenger?

[@itsjustody4094]

They do

[@Pullisto]

What an absolutely superb, first class restoration, a fine looking machine. Great story as well of course. Good to note that Barack Obama has sat on #2857 more recently. But as a person from an historic bus society myself, I'm shocked that you guys were charged a whopping $427, 000 much for a bus that was a derelict shell on a farm. Seems like someone was milking a huge profit from you because they had realized the historical significance of it. Personally if I was a person with such an artifact on my property, I'd have donated it, or at the most, charged a minimum amount for something to take it's place (in that case a hen house). Our society has purchased buses in good going order for about $3000 US, and less for one that was derelict.
Anyway it's great that #2857 now such a revered part of the collection, in pristine condition, inside and out, the interior rebuild especially would have been most pain staking to make it authentic. Good on you guys, marvelous transformation, and hats off to you.
Another bus group here has a 'Rosa Parks Day celebration BBQ, held at my place, of course next is due in 2 days. Her picture sits proud beside a model of a similar model to bus #2857 (but I'd be keen to get a model of that one).

[@TheOwl22]

RIP Rosa Parks

[@Pullisto]

@Alex Ang Price gouging, as derelict old buses are usually give away or go for just a few hundred dollars when they need a lot spent on them to do them up.

[@tokyojapantoyotacorolla4603]

Rest in peace Dr. Martin Luther King I am Rosa parks

[@ramonalisa2000]

No, you’re not

[@raizzthecoolest276]

No u ain’t

[@selenelopez338]

No😇🧜🏻

[@commiekiller]

That's a beautiful racist bus

[@buck9739]

Junk it

[@nelsonrobleto7268]

I didn't know she owned a bus, news to me.