“Get your motor runnin’, Head out on the highway.” How many times do you think we listened to “Born to be Wild” on our recent ~1h, 20 min. trip from Madison to Milwaukee to visit the Harley-Davidson Museum?
The artistry of the Tank Wall and bikes that span from 1906 to the present are a must-see for both HOG fans (and their friends and family) on your next trip to Brew City.
Pro tip: There’s plenty of free parking on campus (for 500 cars or 1,000 motorcycles), so planning your visit just got that much easier.
What we tried:
Fun fact: The very first Harley-Davidson “factory” was a 10x15-ft shed in the Davidson family’s backyard in Milwaukee. On the 20-acre, park-like campus Museum campus, you’ll find a replica of this shed, a motorcycle that survived a tsunami, and a lot of other wheelie cool Harley history.
What not to miss:
The Experience Gallery is the perfect chance to throw a leg over several different types of motorcycles and get a feel for what they would be like on the open road.
And don’t miss the special exhibit called “Mama Tried: Bringing it Together,” opening in June, that will feature outrageous custom and restored vintage bikes. Plus, the Museum also recently opened its first-ever bilingual exhibit, “My Papi Has a Motorcycle.”
What we’re still talking about:
In addition to all the history, you’ll also find tons of shopping on the Museum’s campus — 13,000 sqft of shopping, to be exact:
- The first and only Harley-Davidson Factory Shop: the official outlet for end-of-season gear and discontinued products
- The separate Harley-Davidson® Shop: features collectibles from this year’s 120th anniversary celebration, vintage apparel replicas, and a space to make your own custom gear
Bonus: Don’t miss grabbing lunch at Motor Bar & Restaurant before you leave. (Order the tomato basil soup and Full Throttle grilled cheese.)
How you can experience this:
Tickets are $8-$22 (H.O.G. members get in free), and we definitely recommend the audio tour to help soak in everything your eyes can’t.
Things to know if you go:
- Experience: A trip to the Harley-Davidson Museum
- Price: $0-$22
- Website: https://www.harley-davidson.com/us/en/museum.html
- Address: 400 W. Canal St., Milwaukee, WI 53201
- Hours: Daily from 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
- Social: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram*
