DEARBORN, Mich. (March 10, 2007) — Blue Bird No. 1, the first steel-bodied school bus, has made its way into the history books by way of the Henry Ford, a historical attraction that includes the Henry Ford Museum, the Ford Rouge Factory Tour and Greenfield Village.

Albert L. "Buddy" Luce, Jr., son of Albert Luce, Sr., the original builder of the bus and founder of the Blue Bird Body Company donated the rare piece of school bus history to be displayed on the floor of Henry Ford Museum, as part of its transportation exhibit.

"Donating Blue Bird No. 1 to The Henry Ford at this time is meaningful to me for many reasons," said Albert L. "Buddy" Luce, Jr., in a recent press release. "Last year was the 80th anniversary of Blue Bird Body Company, and I feel this is a great way to acknowledge that milestone."

According to the president of The Henry Ford, Patricia Mooradian, Blue Bird’s inaugural school bus "embodies the ingenuity and resourcefulness of one man."

"By taking one innovation, the Model T, and using it as the foundation for his school bus, Mr. Luce changed the paradigm of transportation for school-age children in terms of safety and reliability. Within eight years, all major school bus manufacturers were producing steel-body buses," said Mooradian in the same release.

Blue Bird No. 1 will join other important historic vehicles, such as the Rosa Parks bus, where Mrs. Parks refused to give up her seat and in turn sparked the Civil Rights Movement.