Furthur
Furthur was the name of the bus used by the Merry Pranksters in 1964, a group of counterculture enthusiasts led by author Ken Kesey. The bus, a 1939 International Harvester school bus, was central to one of the most iconic journeys of the 1960s American counterculture movement.
History and Context
- The Journey: In June 1964, Kesey and his group embarked on a cross-country trip from San Francisco to New York City, with the intent of attending the World's Fair. This journey was not just a road trip but a cultural experiment, capturing the ethos of the emerging hippie movement.
- Decoration and Naming: The bus was decorated with a wild array of psychedelic paint, signs, and slogans, symbolizing the free spirit and experimental nature of the Pranksters. It was named Furthur (with a misspelling of "further"), which represented the idea of pushing boundaries and exploring new realms of consciousness.
- Participants: Notable members of the trip included Neal Cassady, who drove the bus, and figures like Ken Babbs, Carolyn Cassady, and Kesey's Merry Band of Pranksters.
- Documentation: The trip was extensively documented by filmmaker Stewart Brand, although his footage was never completed into a film due to various issues. However, the experience inspired Kesey's book "The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test" by Tom Wolfe, which chronicled the trip and the Pranksters' adventures.
- Legacy: The journey of Furthur has become a cultural touchstone, symbolizing the quest for freedom, creativity, and the breaking of societal norms. It's often cited as a precursor to the Summer of Love in 1967.
After the Journey
- After the trip, the bus continued to be used for various events and was eventually stored in Kesey's barn in Pleasant Hill, Oregon.
- It was later restored by Kesey and others and was occasionally taken out for public display or events.
- In 2007, Kesey's Farm hosted a reunion of the original Merry Pranksters, and Furthur was part of the celebration.
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