The Harley-Davidson Museum’s latest acquisition goes on display beginning April 16
Plus, patio dining has returned to MOTOR® Bar & Restaurant.
MILWAUKEE, USA (April 6, 2021) – The Harley-Davidson Museum is proud to announce its collection has recently grown with the addition of a 1957 Model FL that was ridden by famed Mexican stunt rider and racer Alfonso Sotomayor Canales.
Harley-Davidson’s history in Mexico dates back to at least 1913. In the 1920s, the brand was more frequently spotted throughout Mexico City as the motorcycles proved popular with the local traffic police who would also perform stunts with their Harley-Davidson® bikes. After racing from the 1930s into the 1960s, Sotomayor launched his own stunt riding career by performing the famed “Salto de la Muerte” or Jump of Death.
Beginning Friday, April 16, H-D Museum guests can learn more about Sotomayor’s feats of derring-do and Harley-Davidson’s early entry into Mexico when this new display premieres. Can’t make it down to the crossroads of 6th & Canal just yet? Mark your calendars for our Virtual Gallery Talk on April 15 for a curator-lead exploration.
This month’s other Virtual Gallery Talks will explore the history of trailblazing women riders, H-D® fashions throughout the years and more.
And with warmer temperatures in the forecast, it is time to get reacquainted with the waterfront and cityscape views found only on the patio of MOTOR Bar & Restaurant, home to hickory-smoked BBQ dishes like brisket nachos, BBQ stuffed potatoes, BBQ salads and so much more.
Finally, don’t forget about the H-D Museum’s all-new Annual Pass. Purchase one in 2021 and enjoy perks – like discounts throughout campus and free admission– through 2022.
The H-D Museum is still in the midst of its first step of phased reopening, and City of Milwaukee health officials have approved safety plans for the H-D Museum. Reinforced protocols to support healthy and safe environments for visitors and staff include enhanced cleaning procedures, hand sanitizing stations and online ticketing to ensure social distancing and limiting of capacity levels. Staff and visitors will be required to wear face coverings at all times. Learn more about protocols to support healthy and safe environments.
EXHIBITS
“Off-Road Harley-Davidson” (open now)
In the decades before America paved its highways, early riders had to be prepared for all sorts of terrain: sand, clay or dirt – and wandering those makeshift byways were Harley-Davidson® motorcycles. Today, it’s called off-road or adventure touring; back then it was just called riding. Since 1903, Harley-Davidson motorcycles proved their toughness by riding over wooded hills, through stone-choked creek beds and up mountain sides. “Off-Road Harley-Davidson” tells the history of motorcycles designed for rough roads, the people who rode them and the adventures they shared.
“Building a Milwaukee Icon: Harley-Davidson’s Juneau Avenue Factory” (open now)
A recently recovered cache of architectural drawings includes plans for the original Juneau Avenue facility. The pencil drawings, along with archival photographs, demonstrate the whirlwind pace of the company’s early growth. While building an international business—going from producing just over 1,000 motorcycles in 1909 to manufacturing 27,000 motorcycles in 1920—the company’s Milwaukee factory experienced near-constant expansion. Construction through this relatively brief period created the buildings that today, a century later, are still the proud home of Harley-Davidson.
“Building a Milwaukee Icon” provides a snapshot of Harley-Davidson’s formative years and illustrates a chapter of Milwaukee history when the city was known as the “Machine Shop to the World.”
PROGRAMMING / EVENTS
Looking for interesting things to do and ways to fully enjoy our programs and exhibits? The Harley-Davidson Museum’s new Annual Pass offers individual, family and VIP levels to fit your lifestyle. Just some of the perks of the new Annual Pass include: admission discounts, Virtual Gallery Talks, free admission for children under age 18, merchandise discounts at The Shop, dining discounts at MOTOR® Bar & Restaurant and more.
Plus, if you purchase an Annual Pass in 2021, those passholder perks can be enjoyed all of 2021 and 2022. Visit H-D Museum.com to see complete ticket details for exclusions and other terms and conditions.
Thursdays (April 1, 8, 15, 22 and 29 at 7 p.m.)
The Harley-Davidson Museum is pleased to introduce a new offering to its menu of unique experiences: Virtual Gallery Talks are ideal for those who are hoping to take a deep dive into Harley-Davidson history from the comfort of home.
Each Gallery Talk topic covers an integral chapter in Harley-Davidson’s story. Get an up-close view of artifacts, check out historical footage pulled from our massive archives collection and connect with our team of H-D experts who will host a Q&A during each session. While the H-D Museum opens its doors to visitors from all over the globe, these Virtual Gallery Talks provide another way to experience the adventures of Harley-Davidson.
- Featured Class: Engines 101 (Thursday, April 8, 7 p.m.)
Study the heart of Harley-Davidson® motorcycles: the iconic engine that motors these Freedom Machines. - Featured Gallery Talk: New Acquisition – Stunt Rider Alfonso Sotomayor Canales’ 1957 Model FL (Thursday, April 15, 7 p.m.)
The H-D Museum is excited to share the story of its latest addition to the collection – a 1957 Model FL from Mexican stunt rider Alfonso Sotomayor Canales.
- Featured Gallery: A History of Harley-Davidson® Fashion (Thursday, April 22, 7 p.m.)
From race sweaters to the iconic leather jacket, Harley-Davidson’s fashions have influenced how people look and dress from Main Street in Sturgis to the catwalks of Milan. Learn more about the H-D Museum’s Archives team works hand-in-leather-glove with our retail team to recreate authentic reproductions for the coveted H-D® Originals collection. - Featured Topic: The History of the Harley Owners Group® (H.O.G.®) Riding Club (Thursday, April 29, 7 p.m.)
Join the Harley Owners Group® team as they visit the H-D Museum to share the story of H.O.G. – How the Harley-Davidson Owners Group was born and grew into one of the most influential riding clubs in the world.
Engines 101 (Saturdays and Sundays, 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.)
Study the heart of Harley-Davidson motorcycles: the engine! Join us for a classroom experience covering the gritty details of how Harley-Davidson engines roar to life. No mechanical skills necessary! Leave with an exclusive Engines 101 pin, a $5 coupon for The Shop and a newfound knowledge of how Harley-Davidson® engines are created.
AYCE Fish Fry at MOTOR® BAR & RESTAURANT (Fridays, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.)
Even though Lent is in the rear-view, the delicious all-you-can-eat beer-battered and golden fried cod – served alongside crispy french fries, jicama slaw, corn bread muffin and tartar sauce, all for just $15.95 – is available year round and all day every Friday.
About the Harley-Davidson Museum
Discover culture and history through stories and interactive exhibits that celebrate expression, camaraderie, and love for the sport at the Harley-Davidson Museum. A visit to the H-D Museum is an experience that will stay with you for a lifetime. With an unrivaled collection of Harley-Davidson® motorcycles and memorabilia, a 20-acre, park-like campus, and a calendar full of activities, the H-D Museum is one of Milwaukee’s top tourist destinations for visitors from around the globe. Make your plans to visit the Harley-Davidson Museum at H-DMuseum.com.
