Harley-Davidson Museum

The Harley-Davidson Museum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, tells the story of the motorcycle maker founded in 1903 on a sprawling campus along the banks of the Menomonee River. The grounds occupy a former industrial area that was previously used by a variety of companies; its soil was remediated with a layer of imported earth and replanted with new vegetation. The complex, which opened in 2008, consists of three structures and houses more than 450 motorcycles along with hundreds of thousands of artifacts spanning more than 120 years of company history. The architecture was designed by the firm Pentagram, and the facade is dominated by a large steel logo of the company. In addition to the exhibition spaces, the museum has dining options, a store, and event spaces, while the grounds offer parking for a thousand motorcycles and five hundred cars.

The permanent exhibits are spread across two floors and take you chronologically through the company's development. On the upper level, a long row of motorcycles fills the main hall, flanked by galleries that trace the story from a humble wooden shed to today's status as the leading U.S. manufacturer. One highlight is the oldest known Harley-Davidson, displayed in a glass case atop an illuminated replica of the founders' shed. Other areas are devoted to engineering, such as the Engine Room with disassembled engines and interactive touchscreens, as well as to racing. Here you'll see a tilted section of a historic wooden race track hanging from the ceiling, a reminder of the dangerous competitions of the 1920s.

The museum also explores the cultural significance of the brand. The Custom Culture Gallery shows its influence on American and global culture, including replicas of the motorcycles from the film Easy Rider and the 13-foot-long, twin-engine custom bike King Kong. Another exhibit presents 100 iconic tank graphics from seven decades. The collection is supplemented by the company archives, which are the source of most of the exhibits. Since 1915, one motorcycle has been taken off the production line and archived every year, resulting in a unique historical collection that also includes unusual finds, such as a motorcycle that washed up on a beach in British Columbia after a tsunami in Japan.