Originally on display July 10 - September 6, 2010
“The people don’t come to see me die. They come to see me defy death.” — Evel Knievel
Death-defying feats have fascinated mankind for centuries. From sword-swallowers to human cannonballs, the daredevils of history have risked life and limb to draw a crowd. Few performers gained lasting fame. But in the 1970s a motorcycle-jumping stuntman from Butte, Montana vaulted this tradition from its sideshow origins to unthinkable heights of popularity and influence.
XR-750 from the January 31, 1977 infamous attempt to jump a 90-foot shark tank at the Chicago International Amphitheatre.
Museum Vice-President Bill Davidson welcomes guests to the exhibit opening in the presence of one of Knievel’s iconic star-spangled jumpsuits.