The Bus That Changed History | California News

0:00So, there is this exhibit in Golden Gate Park called, Forever Grateful, and it's got a whole section dedicated to this legendary bus, the Firther. It's the same bus that King Keezy and the Mary Pranksters famously used back in 1964. What's wild is that the original owners, the Hobson family, actually saw it there. They sold the bus to Keezy for $1,250, site unseen, way back when. The Hobson's originally bought the bus because they had a huge family, 11 kids, and needed something bigger than a station wagon for their road. Trips, their dad, and engineer converted it into a mobile home with bunks and a kitchen. Their mom even had a system of numbering the kids to make sure everyone got back on board after stops. They took it everywhere, from Death Valley to Disneyland. It's pretty mind-blowing to think about the journey that bus has been on. From a family vehicle for cross-country adventures, to becoming this iconic symbol of the counterculture movement, the artwork on it is insane, a real testament to the time and the people who

1:02were involved. It's a piece of history that's still sparking conversations and memories. The exhibit also features these psychedelic phone booths where you can share stories or hear others building an archive of sorts. It's all about connecting people through shared experiences, much like the bus itself did in its own way. The organizers are trying to capture that spirit of community and storytelling. It's a cool way to bring different eras together, showing how a single object can have such a lasting impact and connect generations through it's history and the stories it carries. You've been listening to California News today, AI-powered local news.