This week Harley performed a “ribbon-cutting” ceremony that made welder’s around the world proud…using an acetylene torch Jerry Gagner (museum maintenance crew) lit the torch and let the sparks fly as he cut through motorcycle chains to officially open the new Milwaukee museum.
At a cost of $78 million the 130,000-square-foot museum includes exhibits, a 150-seat restaurant called Motor, a take-away restaurant called Café Racer, along with special events and meeting space and 20 acres of outdoor green space. The overall theme of the museum is to tell stories about the people, products, history and culture of Harley-Davidson. The stories are told through Vintage photographs, posters and other artifacts which explain Harleys history.
But most (including me!) of the 105th Anniversary attendees will be locked out! Harley tells it like this:
Myth #4: You can get into the Museum during the 105th Anniversary celebration in August.
Busted: Museum tickets are not available during the Harley-Davidson 105th Anniversary Celebration August 28-31, 2008. To ensure an excellent experience during the 105th Anniversary Celebration, tickets to the Museum were already distributed via a lottery system; therefore, the Museum is closed to the public during the 105th Anniversary.Those who are planning to come to Milwaukee during the 105th Anniversary who don’t have a Museum ticket still will be able to enjoy the Museum grounds. In addition, those who would like to visit the Museum and didn’t receive a ticket through the lottery can purchase Museum tickets before and after the Labor Day weekend (while supplies last).
It turns out that people who purchased tickets for the 105th event prior to November 30, 2007 were part of a random drawing/lottery to receive Museum tickets. Sure, I’m welcome to hang out on the Museum grounds, enjoy the river walk and green space, listen to bands, people watch or try and locate a rivet, but I’m bummed.
Photo Credit : Scott Paulus and the Milwaukee Business Journal. Museum credit Harley.
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