The 115th Anniversary Summer kicks into high gear
Plus: Show your support for our uniformed men and women and so much more!
Milwaukee, Wis.—Now that Milwaukee has finally seen the last of the white stuff, it’s time to kick-start the 2018 riding season! The Summer of the 115th started Thursday, May 10 with the H-D Museum Bike Night Season Kick-Off.
And the H-D Museum will again be the site for the culmination of the country’s largest Armed Forces Week celebrations as we look to salute the men and women who fight for our freedom. Read on for more May highlights.
EVENTS
Bike Night Concert Series kickoff
Returns Thursday, May 10
5-9 p.m., every Thursday through Sept. 27 (except during the 115th Anniversary)
It’s time to kick-start the 2018 riding season! The Summer of the 115th starts Thursday, May 10 with the H-D Museum Bike Night Season Kick-Off. The Bike Night Concert Series begins with live music from The Number 9 Blacktops, a trio of flatlanders bringing their rockabilly stylings over the Cheddar Curtain. In addition to getting an earful of live music, Bike Night attendees will have the chance to win their very own 115th Anniversary Rally Pack plus other unique Harley-Davidson merchandise found only here. And if you sign up for the H-D Museum Bike Night Loyalty Program, you’ll have a chance to win exclusive experiences, tours and more at the end of the season (details on H-DMuseum.com).
All bikes unite every Thursday at the Harley-Davidson Museum. Grab your bike. Join other riders for live music, fun and plenty of eye candy. Enjoy food and drink specials inside and outside MOTOR Bar & Restaurant—including $3 beers with your MOTOR Bike Night Koozie Special—all season long (koozies available at The Shop on the Museum campus). Come early and visit the Harley-Davidson Museum from 9 a.m.-8 p.m. H.O.G members get in free to the H-D Museum every day—for full admission details, visit h-dmuseum.com.
Armed Forces Day Celebration
Saturday, May 19, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
The 15th Annual Support the Troops Ride from Iron Town Harley-Davidson to the Harley-Davidson Museum takes place on Saturday, May 19. The event begins at 9 a.m. with registration and a complimentary pancake and sausage breakfast at Iron Town, and the ride will start at 11 a.m. All motorcyclists are welcome to participate. The ride will pass the Fisher House and Miller Park, ending with a memorial ceremony at the Harley-Davidson Museum, which will include a 21-gun salute, taps and a wreath laying. The military display will be in full swing beginning at 9 a.m. and going until 3 p.m. on the Harley Davidson Museum grounds. Military equipment and interactive displays will be available for attendees to see and experience. Event entrance is free and offers a unique experience to talk with all branches of the military to learn about their experiences and the challenges they face maintaining our freedom.
DISPLAYS
The Engine Wall
The H-D Museum is proud to announce its all-new Engine Wall is currently on display. Designed for performance and styled for appearance, engines are at the center of Harley-Davidson’s identity. It is, after all, the Harley-Davidson Motor Company. The H-D Museum’s new Engine Wall artfully displays 24 examples from the major engine families that Harley-Davidson has engineered over its 115-year history alongside impressive interactive displays that let visitors dive deep into the motor’s workings and supplies the H-D enthusiast with tidbits and trivia related to the Motor Company’s legendary story.
1958 FL Duo-Glide Custom
While gleaming trim was all the rage in the 1950s, the newly installed 1958 FL Duo-Glide Custom may be one of the shiniest Harley-Davidsons of all time. H-D dealer Bub Tramontin, of Clifton, NJ, customized this brand-new bike with chrome from fender to fender, delivering it to a rider from Venezuela. The project took approximately five months to complete at a cost of $3,500, nearly three times the price of a stock model in 1958. This “Panhead” Harley-Davidson helps commemorate 70 years since the first Panhead rolled off the production floor.
TOURS
Inside H-D: All-Day Experience
Offered the first Friday of the month (June-October). Also available for private group bookings. (12-person minimum).
The Inside H-D: All-Day Experience is an in-depth immersion into the world of Harley-Davidson. This guided tour kicks off in front of The Shed on the Harley-Davidson Museum® campus, where you’ll learn about the humble beginnings of the world’s most iconic motorcycle brand. Then it’s time to go inside the Harley-Davidson Museum for an exclusive guided tour featuring new exhibit content and conversation with the Curatorial, Archives or Conservation professionals who are behind the engaging stories on display and behind-the-scenes at the Museum. After the tour, the group will head over to Harley-Davidson Corporate Headquarters located on Juneau Avenue—which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Lunch is served while employees from HDMC and the Harley-Davidson University will swap stories and provide a glimpse of the inner workings of H-D. Upon returning to the Museum, tour participants are invited to enjoy a special discount for The Shop at the H-D Museum, where you’ll find unique clothes and merchandise found nowhere else. The day concludes with happy hour at MOTOR Bar & Restaurant. Transportation to and from Corporate Headquarters is included.
For more information or to book your tour, call 414-287-2799 or email groups@h-dmuseum.
Bikes Brats & Beer Tour
Thursdays @ 3 p.m. and Sundays @ 10 a.m. (June through August)
Get an authentic taste of American history and culture on Harley-Davidson Museum’s Bikes Brats & Beer Tour, offered in partnership with Milwaukee Food & City Tours. The 3 1/2-hour excursion begins with a guided H-D Museum tour, highlighting Harley-Davidson’s journey from garage start-up to iconic global brand. Next, you’ll board the tour bus for a close-up look at Milwaukee’s legendary beer- and sausage-making heritage, traveling through the Menomonee and Miller Valleys and downtown Milwaukee. Narrated points of interest include Miller Park, Miller Brewing Company, the family mansions of Milwaukee beer barons, Pabst Brewery Complex, Schlitz Park, and Usinger’s Famous Sausage Shop.
Purchase tickets online or in person at the H-D Museum lobby.
SAVE THE DATES
June 9 – Ride with Pride launch
June 17 – Father’s Day – Free H-D Museum Admission
June 23 – 5th Annual Bessie Stringfield Ride landing
July 12 – 15 – Wild Ones: Vintage Motorcycle Rally and H-D Museum 10th Birthday Celebration
115th Anniversary
Aug. 29–Sept. 2, 2018
Mark your calendars because, for our 115th Anniversary, we’re throwing parties for the people. Celebrations all about riding, racing, meeting new friends and connecting with people from all over the world who share a passion for the freedom of two wheels. The H-D Museum will be the Central Rally Point all week long, and riders will have a list of destination rides and bike shows from which to choose.
Living the Legend Rivets
To honor the 115th Anniversary of Harley-Davidson, the H-D Museum is rolling out bold new ways to make your mark in history. Honor your H-D journey—or celebrate the legacy of a loved one—with a customized Living the Legend Rivet. Engraved in tough, electropolished stainless steel, displayed on the Museum grounds, your rivet will inspire visitors and other riders for generations to come. Order by June 15 for installation in time for the H-D 115th Anniversary Celebration in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
