HARLEY-DAVIDSON

Nearly 105 years in the making, the Harley-Davidson Museum, located near downtown Milwaukee, opened its doors to the public on Saturday, July 12, 2008. The 130,000-square-foot Museum adds a new dimension to the Harley-Davidson experience. Visitors get a feel for the freedom, camaraderie and pride that Harley-Davidson riders experience every time they fire up their motorcycles.

Every gallery and exhibit is a testimony to the legendary bikes, the people who built them and, of course, every individual who ever felt their powerful rumble on a long stretch of asphalt.

• Walk through exhibits that tell the stories of the extraordinary people, products, history and culture of Harley-Davidson. In addition to the fantastic motorcycle collection, stories are told through photos, videos, apparel, rare documents and other artifacts.
• Peek into a portion of the Archives never before open to the public, home to over 450 motorcycles and thousands of artifacts the Archives team pulls from for exhibits.
• Read the personalized messages created by individuals worldwide on the Living the Legend rivets, found on the Living the Legend walls and plazas.

June 17 – September 5, 2016 – The Garage

Go under the hood with mind-blowing mad scientists of speed to see just how much blood, sweat and elbow grease hot rodders pour into their machines – two wheels or four – in their race against time. See the sport make tracks from its humble beginnings on darkened streets to the bright lights of the winner’s circle as the need for speed permeated pop culture.

“A few years ago, a girl riding a motorcycle would cause a sensation, but today we see them going down the highway and operating their motor as it should be. We have clubs now that are composed entirely of girl riders; they thoroughly enjoy this grand sport.” - The Motorcyclist, June 1940

Women have been riding Harley-Davidson motorcycles since the early days of the sport. Seeking independence and driven by the desire to do something new and exciting, female riders took to the roads and haven’t looked back.

Since the 1980s, the number of women in motorcycling has increased greatly. More clubs exist than ever before, organizing events and providing camaraderie. Female riders continue to find inspiration in their motorcycles, the open road, and each other.

As you begin your tour of the Harley-Davidson Museum^® you'll find yourself on the Museum's second floor staring down a line of bikes, three wide and 180 feet long. These bikes begin to tell the story of the company's first fifty years.

Each bike in the gallery was specifically chosen for its noteworthy heritage, as well as its unique expression of signature Harley-Davidson elements – beauty, performance, functionality and style.

Running along the east side of the second floor, you'll find five interconnected galleries designed to bring the first five decades of Harley-Davidson's rich and illustrious history to life.

Our story opens in the south-most gallery with the motorcycle that is often referred to as "Serial Number One." Dating back to the first years of the company, this is the oldest known Harley-Davidson^® motorcycle in existence. Winding your way north through the galleries, the stories of the people, products, culture and history that made the Harley-Davidson Motor Company what it is today continue to unfold.

As you meander downstairs to continue your tour, you'll enter another set of galleries which feature some of Harley-Davidson's more recent history.

At the foot of the stairs sits a diorama recreating a window display from a 1951 Harley-Davidson^® dealership. Making your way through the galleries, you'll experience some of Harley-Davidson's most successful and most challenging events of recent years – from the launch of the Sportster^® model in 1957 to the merger with AMF in 1969.

Not to be missed is the three-screen video that tells the courageous story of all those involved in buying the company back from AMF in order to regain control of Harley-Davidson's destiny.

As you enter this gallery, it is impossible to miss the Exploded Bike display. Separated into a multitude of pieces, this 1940s Knucklehead is a mechanical drawing brought to life. The display highlights signature design and styling elements that define a Harley-Davidson^® motorcycle.

Across the north wall resides our version of a "family tree." Set against a wall of orange, the engines on display illustrate the evolution of the Harley-Davidson engine from its earliest to its latest incarnation. Spread throughout the rest of the gallery, you will find interactive exhibits showcasing engine mechanics.

Within the frosted-glass walls of this gallery lie the testaments to Harley-Davidson's neverending drive towards uncompromising quality and design.

From a hand-written design notebook dating back to the 1940s, to the original clay styling prototype of the 2002 V-Rod^® motorcycle, you can trace Harley-Davidson's design influence. This exhibit covers the early Engineering Departments as well as the first Styling Department formed in 1963 – all the way to today's Willie G. Davidson Product Development Center.

Competition is the theme for most of this gallery. Faster. Higher. Farther. Those were the words of the day. Standing thirteen feet tall, a replica section of board track sports five vintage Harley-Davidson^® motorcycle racers. This exhibit accurately portrays the forty-five-degree board track curve that allowed racers, without brakes, to achieve top speeds of over 100 mph.

From board track racing and hillclimbs, to club rides and endurance events, this gallery pays tribute to the grassroots movements of the early twentieth century that revolved around the camaraderie, thrill-seeking and competitive spirit that drove the motorcycle culture of the day.

This gallery is dedicated to the personal expression and creativity that permeates the Harley-Davidson culture. While riders have been customizing their bikes since the early 1900s, it was not until after the Second World War that individuals started the customization movement we see today.

From stripped-down bikes to attire with attitude, these nonconformists unknowingly created an "outlaw" image. This small movement quickly turned into a cultural phenomenon thanks to Hollywood's sensationalizing storytelling machine. Make sure to see the "King Kong," a custom creation with two engines that measures nearly 13 feet long!

For some of you, this is the moment you've been waiting for. That's right, go ahead and swing your leg over one of the many motorcycles that inhabit the gallery.

Chosen for their diverse scale, feel the history, the bikes in this gallery are here for you to sit on, touch and admire. And while sitting in the saddle of one of these legendary rides, enjoy a video that allows you to experience the great roads of America and the camaraderie of riding that is at the heart of the Harley-Davidson experience.

The best of the best. Signature Harley-Davidson experiences for those who truly live the legend. Exclusive, unforgettable, the trip of a lifetime. How better to commemorate a road well-traveled than with an exceptional new journey?

Two 2016 dates are scheduled for a three-night package in Harley-Davidson’s hometown of Milwaukee, Wisconsin: June 15 – 18 and November 30 – December 3. The Dream Experience is limited to 20 people, with a minimum age requirement of 18.

Each Premium Dream Experience Package Includes:

• VIP access to Museum Archives and Motorcycle Storage Area with behind-the-scenes tour from a member of the Archives staff.
• Intimate walk through the Museum and lunch at MOTOR^® Bar & Restaurant with Museum VP Bill Davidson.
• VIP Tour at Harley-Davidson Motor Company^® headquarters, including lunch, and shopping privileges at the Juneau Avenue Employee Store.
• Receive a special discount for The Shop at the H-D Museum.
• Each package includes one 3” steel Living the Legend™ steel rivet engraved with your personal message.
• Enjoy three nights deluxe accommodations at the Iron Horse Hotel, including parking for one vehicle and one breakfast voucher for the Iron Horse Library restaurant.
• Transportation for the three days.

June Experience Includes:

• Food and drink experience with Chef Josh at MOTOR.
• Opening reception for the summer exhibit, Drag Racing: America’s Fast Time followed by a traditional Wisconsin fish fry.

December Experience Includes:

• Holiday dinner and entertainment.
• Private shopping and dinner at a local Harley-Davidson dealership.

Single: $2,770.00

Couple: $3,570.00

For additional information or to reserve your spot, call Courtney at 414-287-2784.

Directions & Parking

Harley-Davidson Museum

400 W Canal St

Milwaukee, WI 53201

LOCATION AND HOURS

Museum Hours

Monday - Wednesday 10 AM - 6 PM

Thursday 10 AM - 8 PM

Friday - Sunday 10 AM - 6 PM

Shop Hours

Located across from the Museum

Monday - Wednesday 10 AM - 6:30 PM

Thursday 10 AM - 8:30 PM

Friday - Sunday 10 AM - 6:30 PM