Pupil transportation vehicles have come a long way from the early days of horse-drawn "kid hacks," as they were called. Here's a look back through the many manifestations of the school bus during the past century. This photo gallery originally appeared in our 50th anniversary issue.
Evolution of the School Bus
A 1918 International school bus. Submitted by Bob Neitzel of International Truck and Engine Corp. in Warrenville, Ill.
This bus, believed to be a 1920 Ford, served Arboga (Calif.) School, which is now part of the Marysville Joint Unified School District. Submitted by Donald Buerer, transportation supervisor/driver trainer at the district.
Blue Bird No. 1, built in 1927 by Albert L. Luce Sr. of Fort Valley, Ga.
The first order of Thomas Built school buses, produced in 1936 for North Carolina schools.
A 1948 Gillig with a Studebaker chassis.
Roland Bast, founder of Riteway Bus Service Inc. in Wisconsin, next to one of the company's first four school buses in 1957. The 40-passenger Superiors on Chevrolet chassis cost about $5,000 each.
A 1978 Ward body on an International chassis.
A 1989 Blue Bird body on an International chassis.
This 1991 Crown Supercoach was the last bus built before the manufacturer went out of business. Submitted by Louk Markham, transportation manager at Portage (Mich.) Public Schools.
Thomas Built Buses' Saf-T-Liner C2, which also debuted in 2003.
This horse-drawn wagon served the Baden (Md.) Agricultural High School in the early 1900s. Submitted by Tony Miller, author of "Pupil Transportation Management."
A 1915 "two-horsepower" bus, used by Richard Kickert, founder of Kickert School Bus Line Inc., to transport pupils in South Holland, Ill. Submitted by Paul Boender, general manager of Kickert School Bus Line, which is based in Lynwood, Ill.
Crown Coach Corp.'s first integrally constructed transit-type school bus, built in 1932 for the Glendora (Calif.) Unified School District. Submitted by Katrina Falk.
A 1947 Superior Pusher that served the Glendale (Ariz.) Union High School District.
A 1961 Blue Bird front-engine school bus on a GMC chassis. The bus served Howland Local Schools in Warren, Ohio. Submitted by Jeff Flatt.
A 1966 Collins van-style school bus.
A 1966 Girardin school bus.
Superior's 1974 Mini Bus.
Thomas Built Buses' 1989 rear-engine Saf-T-Liner MVP.
U.S. Bus' Eagle 3400, built on a Navistar 3400 chassis, debuted in 1995.
Blue Bird's Vision, which was introduced in 2002.
IC Corp.'s CE, which was unveiled in 2003.