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Date Constructed: 1937
Address: 434 W. Broadway
Current Building Name: Not Applicable
Earlier Building Names: Greyhound Bus Terminal
Architect: W.S. Arrasmith
Builder: Unknown at this time
Current Status: Demolished - 1970s (?).
Designation (if applicable): Not Applicable
The blue enamel-clad Greyhound Bus Terminal in Louisville was built in 1935 and demolished in the 1970s (?). It was located at 434 W. Broadway (corner of 5th), and was W.S. Arrasmith's first Greyhound terminal. A certain irony is found in the story of Louisville's old Greyhound Terminal. During the late 30s and through the 40's, Greyhound had dozens of terminal buildings constructed all over the United States. The larger city versions were all designed by William ("W.S.") Arrasmith who worked for a firm in Louisville, KY (Wischmeyer, Arrasmith & Elswick). The designs were all different but they each had distinctive streamline moderne styling.
The irony? The few cities that have surviving examples have restored them and value them as an architectural treasure. While here in Louisville, home of the designer, home of the first of his terminals..... no one saw value enough to save the very one in Arrasmith's own home town!
The closest Arrasmith-designed depot to Louisville is Evansville, IN. Click here to see my photos of that particular terminal: http://www.louisvilleartdeco.com/architecture/EvansvilleIN-Greyhound/EvansvilleIN-Greyhound.html
I've included some great links below the thumbnail photos for additional sites and a couple of books about the Arrasmith-designed terminals.
Click on the thumbnail photo to view a larger image.
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 Bus designed by Raymond Loewy |
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Greyhound Links
- A wonderful site with seven pages of photos, postcards and history: http://www.agilitynut.com/bus/1.html
- Another nice page: http://www2.sjsu.edu/faculty/wooda/busdepot/
Books About Greyhound Terminals
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Greyhound in Postcards: Buses, Depots, and Post Houses
Author: Dylan Frautschi |
The Streamline Era Greyhound Terminals: The Architecture of W.S. Arrasmith
Author: Frank E. Wrenrick |
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