The Harley-Davidson Museum

It takes a lot of room to showcase the 100 year history of Harley-Davidson. Their museum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin spans 130,000 square feet over 19 acres and houses more than 450 motorcycles.

The plaque on this statue outside the museums reads "This Dynamic Hill Climber is a Gift from our Family to all Harley-Davidson Enthusiasts Commemorating our Lifelong Association and Shared Passion. Ride Free!" - Nancy and Willie G. Davidson

A trio of 1906, 1909 and 1911 Harley-Davidsons guard the entrance to Mecca and offer a hint of what's in store.

This is <a href="http://www.heavy.com/action/2011/05/harley-davidson-serial-number-one/2/">Harley-Davidson Serial Number One</a>. The very first Harley-Davidson production motorcycle ever made. The 10' x 15' outline on the floor represents the dimensions of the wooden shed it was built in during 1903.

A brochure for the 1906 Harley Davidson Model 2 explained "We have not endeavored to see how cheap we could make it, but how good".

Co-founder Arthur Davidson rode a 1907 Model 3 all over New England recruiting dealers for the growing network to ensure the success of the company.

Experimental, racing, small twin, small single and big twin engines are arranged in chronological order. A handy touchscreen allows you to select and hear engines in action to discover their audible signature.

The 1910's were the era of the "Silent Grey Fellows, exemplified by this 1911 Harley Davidson Model 7-A.

This 1915 Harley-Davidson Model 11-J had a number of firsts including step starter and a complete electrical system, including ignition, lights and horn. It also included a tougher three-speed gear system to handle varied terrain.

Avis and Effie Hotchkiss, mother and daughter, rode from Brooklyn to San Francisco <i>and</i> back in 1915 on a Harley-Davidson Model 11-J. In 2010, this same model was used by an all women team in the Cannonball, a 3,000 mile motorcycle race for pre-1916 machines.

Harley-Davidson has been a supplier to the US Military dating back to World War I. A third of Harley-Davidson's production was purchased during WWI including this 1919 FUS Army.

A stunning display of Harley-Davidson board track racers and a 1936 EL Factory Streamliner that broke the land speed record in 1937 at just over 136 mph.

When I think of the Harley-Davidson I'd most like to own, a Eight-Valve V-Twin Racer is at the top of the list. These engines were experimental, only used in limited numbers for racing and are both beautiful and rare. This stunning example is from 1923.

Harley-Davidson introduced their first street motorcycle with overhead valves in 1926 - a single cylinder BA. This flawless example is unrestored.

1934 marked the year Harley-Davidson began to emerge from the Great Depression. Sales of motorcycles like this 1934 VLD were 11,000, triple the number from a year before.

The 1936 Harley-Davidson EL OHV V-Twin was the first model to employ the iconic "Knuckelhead" power plant. The first time a Harley-Davidson engine's lubrication wasn't by total loss.

This 1939 Harley-Davidson Model G Servi-Car served an ingenious purpose. If a customer's car needed service, the dealership would send a technician to their home on this motorcycle. He'd attach the tow bar to the bumper of the car and then drive the car with the bike attached back to the dealership. Talk about service!

This 1939 Harley-Davidson ULH paint scheme blends perfectly with the signature cat's-eye instrument panel.

Harley-Davidson manufactured the package truck between 1915-1957 which was used primarily for delivery services. This 1941 Harley-Davidson FL with 41M Package Truck was a typical factory product and according to the signage, quite speedy.

A gas tank tells a lot about a motorcycle, denoting a specific era, if not year, make and model. This display of Harley-Davidson tanks is a trip down memory lane, but also shows an incredible variety of design.

Harley-Davidson manufactured 90,000 WL45 engines to support the WWII effort from 1942-1946 and enough spares to build another 30,000. It powers this WLA used by the Navy for Shore Patrol. Amazing look.

Harley-Davidson's name would never appear on a military gas tank, but it's in the details. Notice the bar and shield on the speedometer as well as the plate that lists the operating instructions.

These military spec motorcycles are painted green or grey which imparts a utilitarian feel, amplified by features like high-clearance fenders and my personal favorite, hardcore air cleaners.

The 1946 Harley-Davidson WR Racer has a narrow gas tank and profile suited for the dirt track.

This 1947 EL signaled the re-emergence of Harley-Davidson as a consumer brand following WWII. It was the first bike to receive any changes since 1942, the entire production capacity having been directed to WWII efforts.

This 1947 Harley-Davidson Model G Servi-Car Police was used by meter maids - note the chalk stick for marking tires. Since it was a Police model, it also had shielded spark plug covers to prevent radio interference - something I had never seen before.

A series of 50's Harley-Davidsons including a 1955 Model B "Hummer" and a 1957 XL Sportster alongside period advertising.

Harley-Davidson introduced the Sportster in 1957 and it's been going strong ever since - the longest lifespan of any model.

Harley-Davidson has made a number of products you wouldn't necessarily associate with the brand including boats, scooters and mini-bikes.

Ever nook and cranny of the Harley-Davidson museum is fileld with motorcycles, memorabilia and exhibits.

There was a period when Harley-Davidson enthusiasts went all in when they customized their rides. And one Harley-Davidson mechanic's creation out shined all others in the 1950's. "King Kong" was the culmination of four years of labor by Felix Predko.

"King Kong" is two Harley Davidson frames and two Knucklehead engines that have been painstakingly joined together. This concept is reminiscent of some drag bikes of the period, but never seen on a cruiser. It even had electric start, impressive given that the feature wasn't available on any Harley for another 12 years.

You'll notice that "King Kong" has six exhaust pipes, but only four cylinders. The top two are only for show. Those are from a Cadillac and attached to SCUBA tanks full of compressed air to power the horns taken off a freight train. Are you kidding me?

This 1956 Harley-Davidson KH was owned by the the King himself, Elvis Presley. I always assumed he rode a Harley-Davidson and here's the proof.

These are careful reproductions of the bikes used in the classic movie Easy Rider featuring Dennis Hopper and Peter Fonda.

The film crew built two of each bike for Easy Rider. One pair was destroyed in filming and the others were stolen. Their whereabouts are unknown to this day.

You could spend a few hours in the museum and have a grand time, but I'd come back time and time again. There are simply too many details to absorb.

This 1958 Harley-Davidson XLCH Sportster was designed for off-road racing. It's stripped down - devoid of lights, gauges or other weighty extras. Only 239 were produced.

A Harley enthusiast was laid up from an accident and spent his recovery decorating his 1973 FLH with thousands of rhinestones. If you look closely, you'll see the owner's names "Russ" and "Peg" spelled out in the chaos.

The addition of many, many lights required an extra alternator to handle the added electrical load.

This is a custom 1970 Harley-Davidson Randy Smith Magnum which marries a Flathead bottom end with a Shovelhead top end. The carburetor looks like it was taken off a bus. Crazy, I know, but it got to 106 mph in the quarter mile.

The depth and breadth of the museum has to be applauded. There is going to be something that speaks to you whether or not you are a motorcycle enthusiast.

Although Evel Knevel used a number of bikes during his career, my favorite was the modified Harley-Davidson XR-750 used in his hey day.This is a stock version intended for the dirt track where it found great success. A classic machine.

Who wouldn't want to be Evel Knievel, if only for a moment?

Many enthusiasts customize their bike to express their individuality. This 2002 Harley-Davidson XL883c Sportster was priced at $7,000, but is factory customized with $9,300 worth of parts. Just goes to show what's possible.

Harley-Davidson was acquired by AMF in 1969, but regained their independence in 1981. This Harley-Davidson FLH-80 Heritage Edition was the very first to roll off the production line after "Independence Day" and included vintage elements like a Deluxe Buddy Seat.

Proportions are incredibly important in motorcycle design. Although designers work through issues with CAD (Computer-Aided-Design), clay models still play a large role because at the end of the day, nothing conveys dimension better than a life-size model.

The Harley Owners Group is known as HOG, clever huh? Each chapter has a patch known as a "chapter rocker" and there are more than 1,400 in over 70 countries.

This display summed it all up. We fixate on the machines and their beauty, and why wouldn't we? But that's not what this is all about. It's about the experience of riding and creating your own history. The next five shots are taken randomly from this wall of Harley-Davidson enthusiasts.

The tour ends with an opportunity to sit on Harley-Davidsons ranging from current production models to drag racers. Why not give it a try yourself?