The Greyhound Bus Depot in Pocatello features an eye-catching greyhound image on the depot sign.
What is attention catching here is the giant greyhound racing across the corner of the building. You really can't miss it. The dog almost appears to be running right off the sign and down the street.
I've always liked old Greyhound stations, and this one is a good example of why. Between the curved building and the running greyhound, the whole place has a classic look that takes you back to another era of travel. It's easy to imagine people arriving and departing from here when bus travel was a much bigger part of everyday life.
The last thing I expected to find in downtown Pocatello was a sign like this. It's one of those roadside gems that makes you stop and take a closer look. 10-06
UPDATE: Greyhound no longer operates from this historic depot, but the building and its iconic sign survive. The famous running greyhound has been restored and relit, allowing this Pocatello landmark to continue brightening the downtown streetscape. 06-26
Greyhound Bus Depot (Closed)
Pocatello,
ID Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn
Greyhound Bus Depot (Closed)
Pocatello,
ID Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn
Rio Grande
Salt Lake City, UT Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn
The Rio Grande Depot is one of Salt Lake City's most recognizable railroad landmarks. While the building itself is impressive, what always caught my eye was the giant Rio Grande sign sitting on the roof.
I've photographed this depot several times over the years. The building has a commanding presence, but that rooftop sign is what really ties everything together. For generations, it served as a familiar landmark for anyone passing through downtown Salt Lake City.
The depot was completed in 1910 and later found a second life when it was restored after being acquired by the State of Utah. The building remained an important part of Salt Lake City's history long after passenger trains stopped using it as a station. 10-06
UPDATE: The Rio Grande Depot remains standing, although the building has been closed since suffering damage during the 2020 earthquake. The original rooftop Rio Grande sign was removed in 2019 and replaced with a replica. Fortunately, the historic sign was preserved, restored, and now shines once again at the Heber Valley Railroad, ensuring that this iconic piece of Utah railroad history survives. 06-26
Teamsters
Pocatello, ID Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn
This old building houses Teamsters Local 983 in Pocatello, Idaho.
What is attention catching here is the bright Teamsters sign mounted on the building. You don't normally think of labor union halls when you think of vintage signs, which is one of the reasons this one stood out to me. The faded paint and old lettering on this building are a great reminder of times gone by. It's easy to imagine what this place looked like decades ago when the paint was fresh and the sign was new. 10-06
UPDATE: Teamsters Local 983 remains active in Pocatello today. The vintage Teamsters sign was removed for a time, but fortunately it was preserved, restored, and relit in 2018. Thanks to those efforts, the sign continues to shine and remains part of Pocatello's growing collection of restored historic neon. 06-26
Teamsters
