Own a Piece of History

Own a piece of history: buy a formerly flooded school bus from New Orleans! Think I'm kidding? Take a look!

Starved for cash, the New Orleans school district is taking a long shot and hoping to sell its flooded, unsalvageable school buses on eBay.

Some submerged to their roofs in the black flood waters, the yellow school buses were widely photographed in the days after Hurricane Katrina and have become an icon of the city's devastated school system.

School officials acknowledge the sale of the buses on the Internet auction site may puzzle some people used to more traditional school fundraisers like bake sales.

Well, no one ever said New Orleans was a traditional kind of place.

The first bus went up for sale on Tuesday, and sports the following description:

This New Orleans Public School Bus is a 1993 International Blue Bird with 147,797 miles. The bus was substantially submerged for at least 10 days following Hurricane Katrina, and would require extensive repair to return to full working condition. Please see the photos below. Only 147,797 Original Owner Miles. Buyer is responsible for shipping/delivery. This bus is sold "as is". No warranty or guaranty is expressed or implied. Clear title will be provided. Because the Orleans Parish School District is a public entity, your purchase price less salvage value of the bus may qualify as a charitable contribution! Check with your tax advisor.

This is a collector's dream come true.

You have to give them credit. This is probably the most honest public announcement to come out of New Orleans in a long time. Except the part about the "dream come true," of course.