24Dec
The Polar Express Origin Story
Behold the Santa Rocket Express which used to grace the ceiling of Herpolshiemer’s department store in Grand Rapids, Mi.
It traveled around the ceiling while mothers got on with frantic business of shopping for presents in world where Amazon would bring you nothing because it didn’t exist.
That was a real bit of magic for kids.
It ran from 1947 to 2000 and it now sits in the Grand Rapids Public Museum, instead of rotting in a junk yard. You can sit in it if you like.
Admittedly it isn’t quite the same.
But this was the train that inspired the Polar Express.
