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Harley-Davidson Museum set to open

Collection to include 400 bikes, some belonging to Evel Knievel, Elvis

Image: Hill climber sculputure
Willie G. Davidson, Harley-Davidson executive, and his family unveil a motorcycle hill climber sculpture they are giving to honor the new Harley-Davidson Museum, which opens on July 12 in Milwaukee.
Brad Chaney / Business Wire
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updated 4:46 p.m. ET June 16, 2008

MILWAUKEE - Attention bikers, hogs and Harley fans: A Harley-Davidson Museum is opening July 12 in the iconic company's hometown, Milwaukee.

The museum has a collection of 400 bikes, including bikes that belonged to celebrities like Evel Knievel and Elvis Presley, along with a motorcycle from 1903. That was the year that two young friends from Milwaukee, William S. Harley and Arthur Davidson, first made their product available to the public.

Also on display will be historic items like posters, ads, clothes, trophies and accessories that tell the story of the company and its history; footage of motorcycling, both vintage and contemporary; and a design lab that shows how bikes are developed and engineered. Visitors can sit on 10 vintage and contemporary motorcycles in the final gallery.

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The company celebrates its 105th anniversary this year Aug. 28-31 with a series of special events, including an Aug. 30 Bruce Springsteen concert. (Admission to the concert is only available to anniversary ticket-holders in a package that costs $107.50 per person. Tickets to the anniversary celebration without the concert are $65 and include a two-day festival, admission to the museum and various keepsakes.)

Although the legendary motorcycle company offers tours at its Capital Drive facility in Milwaukee and at its York, Pa.., factory, this is Harley's only comprehensive museum. For tickets or more information, go to harley-davidson.com and click on "museum."

Admission is $16 for adults, $12 for seniors and students and $10 for children ages 5-17. The museum is located at Sixth and Canal streets in a new building designed by Pentagram Architects.

Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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