Streamline Moderne architecture celebrated America’s engineering prowess. The style—which offered an optimistic response to the woes of the Great Depression—promised a better future through technology. Its celebration of speed and efficiency provided a perfect match for Greyhound Lines, which adopted the style as part of its corporate identity. Founded in 1914, the bus company built dozens of Streamline Moderne depots during its dramatic post-World War II expansion, including this one in 1947. Complementing the sleek aesthetic of Greyhound’s Silverside buses, the depots incorporated modern materials, including glass block and aluminum, which gave the buildings a progressive feel. In typical streamlined fashion, the depots hugged the ground while their smooth, aerodynamic surfaces, rounded corners, and curved plate-glass windows echoed the company’s commitment to fast, efficient transportation. The site of the Great Falls depot had once housed a livery stable. After 1947, it provided access to a more modern form of transportation, conveniently located near the city center.
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