Safe Bus Museum
The Winston-Salem Transit Authority (WSTA) is the organization that operates the mass transit system within the city of Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
WSTA was formed in 1972 after the merger of two bus systems in the city, one run by Duke Power catering to white residents, and the other, Safe Bus Company, serving the African-American community. The staff wanted to investigate if the last of the Safe Bus fleet vehicles could be transformed into a mobile museum that could be taken to churches, museums, and other gathering places to educate people in Winston-Salem and surrounding communities about the history of the city’s transportation system and its cultural significance.
All illustrations were created by our friend Jennifer Gentry.
Safe Bus - Exterior
This is the condition of the Safe Bus as it currently stands. the unique orange, white, and chrome color scheme make it very eye-catching from any distance. In fact, we first noticed it in a parking lot long before the idea for the museum was ever publicized.
Safe Bus - Exterior Rendering (Closed)
One of the mandates for the museum concept was that it needed to function as a true vehicle for transportation purposes. Our goal was to keep as much of the exterior in place as possible to preserve the “vintage” feel of the bus and not violate the exterior lines and textures.
Safe Bus - Exterior Rendering (Open)
When the bus is parked, the museum is “open for business.” A sign and bench serve as a make-shift bus stop for people waiting to step inside. A ramp unfolds to make the museum more accessible to those who would have difficulty with the stairs, and assistance is provided by a guide dressed in a period driver uniform. A mannequin is visible through the windshield sitting in the driver’s seat.
Safe Bus - Interior Rendering
The concept for the interior of the bus was that everything could be “locked down” when the bus is in motion and then opened up to transform into the museum. Display cases on one side of the bus contain a timeline on the opened lids of the cases, and artifacts such as old tickets, uniform patches, and tokens would live in the slanted presentation areas. These cases will be made from the same textured metals and vintage materials as when the bus was originally built.
Vintage ads for local Winston-Salem businesses line the tops of each wall, while translucent banners with images from the Safe Bus archives separate different sections of the bus. Some of the seats will remain so that visitors will be able to relax as well as understand what riding on the bus was like. There will also be two display screens at the front and back of the bus with a multimedia presentation showcasing the history of Safe Bus, and a mannequin in a period driver uniform to welcome museum patrons.
Safe Bus - Driving Simulator
Another idea was for the creation of a driving simulator for children. Using a flat panel screen and simple, iconic pedals, they cold take the wheel and feel what it’s like to drive a bus through some of Winston-Salem’s historic neighborhoods.
Safe Bus - Interior
The interior of the bus is still in very good condition. We took reference photos as well as a walk-though movie to get an idea of the space to determine what exhibits could be included, what modifications would need to take place, and how patrons might circulate through the bus when is was parked for viewing.