When eight "Old Yellow Buses" make their return to Yellowstone National Park this summer, they will provide visitors with much more than meets the eye. Their original appearance will be complemented by an under-the-hood-and-body refurbishment that will bring the vehicles to today's commercial standards for safety and emissions. Modifications include a retro- style instrument panel, new convertible tops, and reupholstered seats, as well automatic transmissions and anti-lock brakes.

The Old Yellow Buses are White Motor Company Model 706s that were used in the 1930s. In the 1950s private vehicle usage increased to the point where they were not needed. The vehicles were sold and disbursed across the country. The Skagway (Alaska) Streetcar Company purchased eight of the vehicles and used them until the company returned them to the park in 2001. Xanterra Parks & Resorts agreed to purchase and refurbish the vehicles for use on daily tours.

Yellowstone Society members will soon be receiving an invitation to a special version of the June 2, 2007, Return of the Yellow Bus event to welcome the park’s historic yellow buses back to Yellowstone.

In addition to enjoying all public events being held that day, which include a display of some of the park’s historic vehicles, special educational programs, presentations by park officials, and the opportunity to watch the official return of the buses through the historic Roosevelt Arch in Gardiner, Montana, Yellowstone Society members will be asked to join the Yellowstone Association’s executive director Pat Cole for a special reception and a tour of the Hall’s Mercantile building. This historic structure was originally designed by Robert Reamer, architect of the Old Faithful Inn, and is located adjacent to the park entrance at the Roosevelt Arch. The Hall’s Mercantile building has been purchased by the Association, and a capital campaign is underway to raise funds necessary to save and adaptively re-use the structure as a new Education Headquarters for the Association.

Society members support the organization at an annual dues level of $1,000 a year or more. If you’re already a Yellowstone Society member, watch for your invitation in the next few weeks! If you’re a member and would like to upgrade to Society level, please call Association development assistant Olesja Hoppe at 307-344-2289.

Children and adults are bound to like this enchanting memento of the bygone days in Yellowstone National Park. The “O” scale White Model 706 tour bus has been replicated with close attention to original detail. The die-cast metal body sports tires with the exact tread design of the original fleet. Other features, too, such as the "railroad lantern" tail lights, the gearshift levers, grab-handles on the seatbacks, and the four- spoke steering wheel are modeled exactly like those on the original bus. Die-cast and railroad modelers will be thrilled to add the 1936 to their collections. 2002. Price $19.95 ($16.96 for members).

The Yellowstone Association is pleased to announce that they have received a $40,300 Daniels Fund grant to offer three teacher workshops inside Yellowstone National Park. This grant will allow the Yellowstone Association to provide free tuition, lodging, meals, and curriculum materials for 45 Wyoming teachers.

Workshops to be offered this summer, fall, and winter are No Child Left Indoors! (July 23-26), What Lies Beneath (October 18-21), and Hunter, Hunted (November 8-11). They are designed for teachers of grades four through eight and their principals. Although the grant is for Wyoming educators, all teachers from public, private and charter schools are welcome to attend.

The Daniels Fund was established in 1997 by cable television pioneer Bill Daniels to support scholarship and grant programs in Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming. For additional information, please contact the Yellowstone Association Institute registrar at 307-344-2294.