Usually, there's no parking allowed inside the galleries of the Peoria Riverfront Museum. But an exception has been made for an exhibition featuring a unique Ford Model T that took a gaggle of central Illinois women on adventures across North America. The girls met movie stars, charmed a titan of industry and became a depression-era viral sensation.
The Gypsy Coeds Ride Again
1 of
The Sliver Streak
Laura Kennedy / WGLT
2 of
The Sliver Streak
Laura Kennedy / WGLT
3 of
The Gypsy Coeds in the Silver Streak
Laura Kennedy / WGLT
4 of
The Gypsy Coeds in the Silver Streak
Laura Kennedy / WGLT
5 of
Lizzie Label on The Silver Streak
Laura Kennedy / WGLT
6 of
Lizzie Label on The Silver Streak
Laura Kennedy / WGLT
7 of
Ford joke book
Laura Kennedy / WGLT
8 of
Ford joke book
Laura Kennedy / WGLT
9 of
Lizzie Labels cover the SIlver Streak
Laura Kennedy / WGLT
10 of
Lizzie Labels cover the SIlver Streak
Laura Kennedy / WGLT
11 of
This is a jacket worn by John Butte's mom, Regina during her time as a Gypsy Coed
Laura Kennedy / WGLT
12 of
This is a jacket worn by John Butte's mom, Regina during her time as a Gypsy Coed
Laura Kennedy / WGLT
13 of
The Gypsy Coeds out west.
Laura Kennedy / WGLT
14 of
The Gypsy Coeds out west.
Laura Kennedy / WGLT
15 of
Photo bearing Henry Ford's signature
Laura Kennedy / WGLT
16 of
Photo bearing Henry Ford's signature
Laura Kennedy / WGLT
17 of
The Gypsy Coeds helping out the USO
Laura Kennedy / WGLT
18 of
The Gypsy Coeds helping out the USO
Laura Kennedy / WGLT
19 of
Close up of the Silver Streak's grill.
Laura Kennedy / WGLT
20 of
Close up of the Silver Streak's grill.
Laura Kennedy / WGLT
21 of
They're card carrying Gypsy Coeds, alright!
Laura Kennedy / WGLT
22 of
They're card carrying Gypsy Coeds, alright!
Laura Kennedy / WGLT
23 of
More Lizzie Labels
Laura Kennedy / WGLT
24 of
More Lizzie Labels
Laura Kennedy / WGLT
25 of
Sadly, the HOllywood autographs haven't survived the years, but there's plenty to read on The Silver Streak.
Laura Kennedy / WGLT
26 of
Sadly, the HOllywood autographs haven't survived the years, but there's plenty to read on The Silver Streak.
Laura Kennedy / WGLT
27 of
John Butte and his wife, Carmen.
Laura Kennedy / WGLT
28 of
John Butte and his wife, Carmen.
Laura Kennedy / WGLT
29 of
The Sliver Streak in all her glory.
Laura Kennedy / WGLT
30 of
The Sliver Streak in all her glory.
Laura Kennedy / WGLT
31 of
There's no trunk on The Silver Streak, so the girls improvised a way to keep their luggage safe on the running board.
Laura Kennedy / WGLT
32 of
There's no trunk on The Silver Streak, so the girls improvised a way to keep their luggage safe on the running board.
Laura Kennedy / WGLT
33 of
The Silver Streak
Laura Kennedy / WGLT
34 of
The Silver Streak
Laura Kennedy / WGLT
35 of
Souvenir of the Coeds visit to the Dionne Quintuplets
Laura Kennedy / WGLT
36 of
Souvenir of the Coeds visit to the Dionne Quintuplets
Laura Kennedy / WGLT
37 of
Movie star Don Ameche signs the Silver Streak
Laura Kennedy / WGLT
38 of
Movie star Don Ameche signs the Silver Streak
Laura Kennedy / WGLT
39 of
That's Henry Ford posing with the Gypsy Coeds.
Laura Kennedy / WGLT
40 of
That's Henry Ford posing with the Gypsy Coeds.
Laura Kennedy / WGLT
