Ride of Fame facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Ride of Fame

Ride of Fame curtain covering the Tracey Bregman double-decker bus prior to its unveiling on April 7, 2014
Established	May 4, 2010
Location	New York City, New York
Type	Celebrity Career Achievement
Collections	56

The Ride of Fame is a special way to honor famous people in New York City. It celebrates public figures who have done great things. These people are recognized for being amazing "New Yorkers." They also represent the city in a positive way.

Sometimes, people are honored just for being the best in their field. This can be true even if they are not from New York. For example, the music group Air Supply from Australia and singer Carlos Vives from Colombia have been honored.

Each person honored gets a special sticker. This sticker is placed permanently on the front of a red double-decker bus. It's like a time capsule moving around New York City. Since 2012, honorees also get a special message written on a seat. These seats are on the top deck of the bus. This lets them share their moment with everyone visiting New York City.

How the Ride of Fame Started

Rachael Ray posing with her Ride of Fame decal

The Ride of Fame began in 2010. The first person to be honored was Emmy Award winner and author Rachael Ray. A special event happened in front of her studio. After the event, Rachael Ray led 50 fans on a tour. They rode on top of her new bus, which was dedicated to her.

This event was also special for Gray Line Worldwide. This company runs double-decker bus tours. New York City was chosen to celebrate their 100th anniversary. Gray Line Worldwide started in Washington, D.C., in 1910. New York City was their second city for tours.

Since Rachael Ray, new ceremonies happen often. Public figures receive their own decal for a double-decker bus. Most of these events take place at Pier 78 on the Hudson River. Some ceremonies have also happened in famous places. These include Times Square and Central Park.

Honors Beyond New York City

On October 13, 2012, the band Air Supply was honored. They were the first to get special seats on the bus. These seats were on the top deck. They also received a decal for the front of the bus. Air Supply was also the first to be called an "Immortal" honoree. This is part of a special way of grouping honorees.

The Ride of Fame started honoring people outside New York City in 2014. Jeff Conine of the Miami Marlins was the first person honored in Miami. Since then, people have been honored in Washington, D.C. The plan is to honor people around the world. This will happen in cities that have double-decker bus services.

Who Has Been Honored?

Liza Minnelli posing with her Ride of Fame decal

Many famous people have been honored by the Ride of Fame. Here is a list of some of them.

*Since October 13, 2012, honorees are placed into groups: Immortal, IT, or imminent. Air Supply was the first to be grouped this way. **These honorees were recognized in a city other than New York City. This started with Jeff Conine in Miami.