After numerous attempts during Guthrie's early years to establish
a viable public transportation system, efforts were more or less
abandoned. During the mid-twentieth century, Guthrie experienced
a restful period when the need for public transportation was at a
minimum and though several taxi companies came and went the
thought of a trolley was not in the minds of the citizens.

In 1988, however a serious, pro-active revitalization was to take place
that would stimulate commerce, tourism, and downtown businesses
that had suffered the lack-luster
successes that befall many small
towns. The trigger for this
revitalization was the realization
that Guthrie contained a wealth
of nineteenth and early twentieth
century architecture.
A hand-full of preservation minded
citizens took it upon themselves to
try to recover the grand facades
and architectural beauty of Oklahoma's First Capital. The successful
effort to restore these buildings resulted in a huge revitalization
of the city and the creation of the tourism Industry that is
the single most economically valuable asset of Guthrie today.
In addition, the downtown area became a popular neighborhood for
residents who chose to make their homes in the towers and multi-level
buildings, thus taking the restorations well above the street level.

Another natural step in this process was to restore public transit for
the city and at that point, The Logan County Historical Society re-instituted
the long abandoned trolley system. It began to do business beginning
in November of 1988. The First Capital Trolley Company started with only
two trolleys and today boasts 45 vehicles of varied sizes and purposes
and employs 43 people and a full time office staff.

The charming green trolleys can be seen all over the Guthrie Historic
District and the First Capital Trolley buses and vans provide a valuable
and convenient public service that most towns the size of Guthrie only
dream of achieving. In 2008 the First Capital Trolley instituted a true
public transportation system serving Guthrie, Logan, Lincoln and Payne
Counties, and select locations in OKC, Edmond, Tulsa and Enid.
The Logan County Historical
Society owns and operates
the First Capital Trolley in Guthrie.
The First Capital Trolley takes
visitors on a narrated tour of the
National Historic Landmark District
and provides many other services
designed to support the local
population of Logan County with
transportation options.
HISTORY OF THE FIRST CAPITAL TROLLEY
P.O. Box 1512
Guthrie, Oklahoma
73044
405.282.6000
Details and Schedules can be found on the
First Capital Trolley's web site: