Vertigo58 Posted March 8, 2007 Share Posted March 8, 2007 Thank heaven for Google! I simply could not remember the name of the train that stopped here for several days in celebration of our bicentennial. The American Freedom Train made a stop over at Union Station (still was opened) at this time. Our 10th grade class took a field trip to check the train out. Once inside, the train carried numerous items of Classic American Memorabilia/Nostalgia. I only recall seeing the ruby slippers from the Wizard of Oz under glass, but there were many items of interest. The attached link will give the exact time line it was here Feb 19-24 1976. There were hundreds of school buses waiting their turn to get on board. Too bad we couldn't cruise around in it! Wonder if any others here may have any photos or memories of this event? I hope long time citizens of Houston can remember. As an addition, my mom says she still remembers the day her dad and mom dropped off my uncles at Union Station as very young men to go overseas soon after Pearl Harbor event. Luckily they all came back soon afterwards. Link below! http://www.freedomtrain.org/html/aft_timeline.htm 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nativehou Posted March 8, 2007 Share Posted March 8, 2007 I was in 4th grade and went there on a field trip. I remember it being a HUGE deal -- everyone was very excited -- but the only specific artifact I can remember seeing was some gigantic pair of shoes worn by some pro basketball player. Why I only remember that, I don't know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heights2Bastrop Posted March 9, 2007 Share Posted March 9, 2007 The shoes were probably Bob Lanier's. I think he wore a size 22 or something like that. They also had John Havlicek's green Converse tennies from his Celtics days. My favorite exhibit was Archie Bunker's chair. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vertigo58 Posted March 9, 2007 Author Share Posted March 9, 2007 The shoes were probably Bob Lanier's. I think he wore a size 22 or something like that. They also had John Havlicek's green Converse tennies from his Celtics days. My favorite exhibit was Archie Bunker's chair.Yes, they had stuff like that on this tour/exhibit. I imagine most of it is now in the Smithsonian?All these years I thought they had called this "The Spirit of 76 tour" Thats why I needed to clear up my own mystery with everyones help. Thanks!Not to stray from the subject but I recall going on a field trip around 1967 to Union Station to walk around inside. I remember sitting on what seemed like HUGE wooden seats where passengers waited for thier trains to arrive or depart. In the film "Trip To Bountiful", the inside of Union Station is recreated (Houston 1940's) in the scene where Geraldine Page sneaks away to go back to her little home town. Great early Houston scenes at beginning! Buy it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heights2Bastrop Posted March 9, 2007 Share Posted March 9, 2007 (edited) I fondly remember the murals inside Union Station, most likely from a WPA project. Also, they had a great model train layout on one of the upper floors that was open to the public. My dad took me to see it numerous times as a kid.BTW, the items on the train were selected from the Smithsonian, or were destined to reside there after the tour. Edited March 9, 2007 by Heights2Bastrop Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FilioScotia Posted March 10, 2007 Share Posted March 10, 2007 (edited) Thank heaven for Google! I simply could not remember the name of the train that stopped here for several days in celebration of our bicentennial.About six months before the Freedom Train came to town, my late father-in-law played Benjamin Franklin in a production of 1776 at the old Royal Coach Inn Dinner Theatre. He was a very good actor, singer and dancer, but he got the part the minute he came through the door at the auditions because he looked just like every picture you've ever seen of Franklin, right down to the bifocal glasses. The director, Marietta Marich, took one look at him and said "he's our Ben Franklin -- I don't care if he can sing or not." She was thrilled when she learned he could carry the part with the same lively style and pinache as Howard Da Silva, the actor who did the role in the movie. He was great. So great that a few months later he got a call from the Houston Bi-Centennial Committee. They wanted to know if he would dress up like Franklin again, go to Austin to meet the Freedom Train and ride it to Houston. He did, and became the living symbol of the Bi-Centennial while the train was in Houston. He made a bunch of personal appearances at shopping malls and other places with the Freedom Train people and traveling exhibits, and I'm sure he spent time at the old Union Station too.He spoke six languages fluently, including Spanish, French and several Middle Eastern tongues, and it blew the Washington peoples' minds to see him speaking to just about anybody who came up in their native language. They wanted him to travel the country on the Freedom Train but he couldn't take the time from his work to do that. He always regretted not taking that road. Edited March 10, 2007 by FilioScotia Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaxConcrete Posted March 10, 2007 Share Posted March 10, 2007 I remember going in the evening with my parents (as a 9-year-old). My main memory is a huge line waiting to get in. As for the exhibit in the train, I can't remember any specifics. But I do remember waiting in that line! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shasta Posted August 6, 2009 Share Posted August 6, 2009 (edited) Does anyone have:1) photos of old Union Station and downtown during the time it was running, and2) photos, a map, or info showing the old street car/ light rail system located all up downtown and up to the Heights and Montrose? Edited August 6, 2009 by shasta Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gto250us Posted August 6, 2009 Share Posted August 6, 2009 Does anyone have:1) photos of old Union Station and downtown during the time it was running, and2) photos, a map, or info showing the old street car/ light rail system located all up downtown and up to the Heights and Montrose?Google - Houston Union Station and hit "Images"or try: http://members.iglou.com/baron/interurban.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sevfiv Posted August 6, 2009 Share Posted August 6, 2009 Your best bet is to get your hands on this:http://members.iglou.com/baron/book-info.htmhttp://www.amazon.com/Houston-Electric-Street-Railways-Texas/dp/0965382818 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NenaE Posted August 7, 2009 Share Posted August 7, 2009 (edited) Union Station: http://sloanegallery.com/newpage61.htm http://harvey.librar...11/welcome.html http://texashistory....e_photo&start=0 (pic 7, 8, have pics of dwtn bldgs) Believe 8 is departing, not entering, station in background) Edited August 7, 2009 by NenaE Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shasta Posted August 10, 2009 Share Posted August 10, 2009 Your best bet is to get your hands on this:http://members.iglou.com/baron/book-info.htmhttp://www.amazon.com/Houston-Electric-Street-Railways-Texas/dp/0965382818I did manage to get my hands on that Houston Electric book and all I have to say is WOW. The old photos show a vibrant downtown complete with tons of street retail, canopied walk ways, pedestrians and yes......light rail on almost every street. I noticed the cities that did not prosper after the 2nd world war seemed to have a better chance at maintaining their historical buildings. Houston never had a chance...the old building were more valuable to land speculators. Pick up this book because Houston is represented as a very different city here. What a shame. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
57Tbird Posted August 17, 2009 Share Posted August 17, 2009 1912 pictures... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
artistpro Posted June 14, 2011 Share Posted June 14, 2011 Wonder if any others here may have any photos or memories of this event? I hope long time citizens of Houston can remember.I have film of that event..and will post it as soon as I figure out how. The 16mm film is being digitized and as soon as it's back, I'll edit it and upload. Any suggestions for a server?thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
devonhart Posted September 16, 2012 Share Posted September 16, 2012 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sevfiv Posted September 17, 2012 Share Posted September 17, 2012 Neat - thanks for posting! I'd love to see a 360 of that area (Ben Milam/Willam Penn/DeGeorge hotels, Federal Reserve, and so on) from that time.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hindesky Posted October 18, 2021 Share Posted October 18, 2021 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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