« The Long And The Lat Of It | Main | Rhode Island’s Soviet Sub Resurfaces »
Born To Be Marketed: Harley-Davidson Museum Opens
July 23, 2008
Considering the number of motorcycles on American highways — and the number of tips we receive from people carefully posing their motorcycles in their photos — it’s surprising that America has lagged in offering a really good motorcycle-themed attraction. That is, if you discount the occasional human skeleton on a motorcycle, or a motorcycle made of bones.
That void has now been filled by the $75 million, 130,000-sq-ft Harley-Davidson Museum, recently opened by the corporation in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It’s so hip that tickets to visit have to be purchased in advance. It may not quite equal the product rapture and branding nirvana of the New World of Coca-Cola, but it comes close.
A Vietnam Memorial-style wall outside is studded with over-sized “rivets” onto which you can have inscribed personal messages — for $250. An interactive exhibit shows how a Harley engine works by crushing a Miller Lite beer can — Milwaukee’s other consumer icon. The sit-down restaurant serves its kebabs on real wheel spokes.
Some of the more noteworthy of the over 400 Harleys on display include models ridden by Elvis Presley and Evel Knievel, the oldest Harley in existence, and King Kong, a lumpy-looking two-engine model that took over 4000 hours to customize and stretches over 13 feet long.
After you max out on motorcycles, the museum also has small exhibits on the company’s bicycles, snowmobiles, boats, and golf carts.
Sections: Attraction News Comments Off
Discussion is closed.
Trunkation Nation
Recent Posts
- Giant Forks: Sign of the Tines
- Squawk Show
- Lucy In The Sky With Damage
- Parking Spots: House of Cars
- Flamingo Flap
- Tip O’ The Hat ‘N’ Boots
Archives
- November 2009 (4)
- October 2009 (8)
- September 2009 (13)
- August 2009 (8)
- July 2009 (17)
- June 2009 (22)
- May 2009 (16)
- April 2009 (25)
- March 2009 (24)
- February 2009 (17)
- January 2009 (28)
- December 2008 (26)
- November 2008 (28)
- October 2008 (24)
- September 2008 (27)
- August 2008 (18)
- July 2008 (27)
- June 2008 (23)
- May 2008 (23)
- April 2008 (23)
- March 2008 (12)
Most Wanted
Photos needed! If you've taken your own shots of these, send 'em in!
- Abe Lincoln and Pig Statue, Taylorville, IL
- Andy Devine Room, Kingman, AZ
- Tomb of the Unknown Animal, Virginia Beach, VA
- Big Bopper's Casket, Hillsboro, Texas
If you have photos or new information, please submit a tip!

