The Harley-Davidson Museum® campus is lit for the holidays!

MILWAUKEE, USA (Dec. 6, 2022) – Your presence is our present at the Harley-Davidson Museum this holiday season! Beginning this week, the H-D Museum™ campus has been made over into a winter wonderland. From unique photo ops among dazzling lights and sparkling bikes to visits from Saint Nick (be sure to make your reservation for Breakfast with Santa at MOTOR Bar & Restaurant, which has been made over to celebrate Executive Chef Sione Moonia’s Hawaiian heritage) and loads of gift ideas at the Harley-Davidson® Shop and the Harley-Davidson® Factory Shop, you’d be forgiven if you step onto the crossroads of 6^th and Canal and think you’re at the North Pole. It’s all a part of the H-D Museum’s 12 Days of Holiday Fun (Dec. 7 – 18).

Plus, on Dec. 17, the H-D Museum, in partnership with author Isabel Quintero and illustrator Zeke Peña, will unveil its first-ever bilingual exhibit, “My Papi Has a Motorcycle” / “Mi Papi Tiene una Moto.” The beloved children’s book jumps off the page and into the Bridge Gallery to share stories of family bonds that grow stronger on the back of a bike.

Please take note of holiday and seasonal hours:
Christmas Eve: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Christmas Day: Closed

Please also note that aside from private events hosted by 1903 Events, the H-D Museum™ campus will be closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays in January and February of 2023.

 

PROGRAMMING / EVENTS
A Harley Tradition: 12 Days of Holiday Fun, Dec. 7 – 18
Make your plans to visit the crossroads of 6th & Canal – just south of the North Pole – for 12 days of Harley-Davidson Holiday Fun! From December 7 through 18, the H-D Museum campus will be a winter wonderland. Find the perfect gift at the Harley-Davidson® Shop and Factory Shop with 12 Days of special deals and events. Take advantage of extended hours throughout campus on December 8 and 15 – including afterhours shopping, free gift wrapping, plus live music and food and drink specials at Hawaiian Holiday-themed MOTOR Bar & Restaurant. Create your own Harley Traditions at Breakfast with Santa on December 11 and 18 and kid-friendly Holiday activities in the Experience Gallery. Check out the unique photo ops among dazzling lights and sparkling bikes all over campus. And on December 17, the H-D Museum unveils its first-ever bilingual exhibit, “My Papi Has a Motorcycle” / “Mi Papi Tiene una Moto.” No matter which day you visit, it’s going to be lit!

Annual Pass
Looking for interesting things to do and ways to fully enjoy our programs and exhibits? Maybe doing a little holiday shopping for those who love the adventure only Harley-Davidson can bring? The Harley-Davidson Museum’s new Annual Pass offers individual, family and VIP levels to fit your lifestyle. Just some of the perks of the new Annual Pass include: virtual access to the H-D Museum with various Harley history topics covered in our Virtual Gallery Talk series, admission discounts, free admission for children under age 18, merchandise discounts at The Shop, dining discounts at MOTOR® Bar & Restaurant and more. Visit H-D Museum.com for details and other terms and conditions.

Guided Tours
All new in ’22. Our guided tour portfolio has been updated with new experiences and content. Choose from the Spotlight Tour, the Beyond the Gate Tour or the VIP Tour. Spotlight Tours are available on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Spanish Spotlight Tours are available most weekends. The Beyond the Gate Tour is a rare public offering and is now available for reservations for tours on 12/26 and 12/31. Book now as space is extremely limited! Guests are invited to check out the calendar when planning their visit to sign-up in advance for an unforgettable guided experience. To book a private group tour, please call 414-287-2799 or email for more information. Reservations and prepayment required at least 2-weeks prior to tour date. Please note: Tour fee does not include General Admission.

Engineering Merit Badge (Saturdays at 10:15 a.m. and 2 p.m.)
All scouts are welcome to come earn their Engineering Merit Badge at the Harley-Davidson Museum! This experience will be launched by our merit badge counselor. Then, scouts will explore the history of Harley-Davidson as well as the engineering of motorcycles as they complete the nine merit badge requirements. Advance registration is required. Program registration closes one week prior to the scheduled program date. Ticket includes: downloadable activity booklet used for the program, welcome and orientation by program facilitator, blue card signed by the facilitator (one blue card per scout registration) and an exclusive H-D Museum™ patch.

Scout Virtual Engineering Merit Badge (Saturdays at 8:30 a.m. and Tuesdays at 6:30 p.m.)
This new 90-minute online program is open to scouts from all over the country. Our program facilitator will guide the troops and explore the role an engineer plays while creating a Harley-Davidson® Motorcycle. Nine requirements for the Engineering Merit Badge will be discussed during this virtual, interactive program. Advance registration is required. Program Fee: $20 per Scout, which includes an activity booklet used during the program and a special H-D® patch upon completion of the program.

MUST-SEE EXHIBITS AND INSTALLATIONS
“My Papi Has a Motorcycle” / “Mi Papi Tiene una Moto” (opening Dec. 17)
From award-winning children and YA author Isabel Quintero and illustrator Zeke Peña comes the Harley-Davidson Museum’s first-ever bilingual exhibit, “My Papi has a Motorcycle” / “Mi Papi Tien una Moto.” Based on the beloved children’s book of the same name, “My Papi has a Motorcycle” shares a story of family bonds strengthened by the simple act of taking a joy ride on a two-wheeled machine. With brilliant, colorful art from Peña paired with heart-warming stories from Southern Californian riding families, “My Papi has a Motorcycle” will draw smiles from kids of all ages. It’s an exhibit that focuses not only on where you can take a motorcycle, but where a two-up motorcycle ride with a loved one can take you.

Experience Gallery (on display now)
With inspiring stories from riders who have turned their dream of learning to ride into reality, a look at the epic journeys you can only experience behind the bars of a Harley-Davidson® motorcycle, plus the chance to throw a leg over a new Harley-Davidson #FreedomMachine, the reinstalled and all-new Experience Gallery shows the world how United We Ride!

Google Arts & Culture: Take a Trip through Time (on display now)

Lillian Hauerwas began riding in 1911 when she was 19 years old. In 1914, she and a friend took a sidecar rig on a week-long trip. Check out a photo album from their ride and find out more about this early advocate for women motorcyclists on the Museum’s Google Arts & Culture site.

 

Motorsports Hall of Fame of America (on display now)
The four founders of Harley-Davidson were recently inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America. Learn more about this prestigious honor now on view in the H-D Museum.

Linda “Jo” Giovannoni (on display now)
This year the world of motorcycling lost a prominent voice, Linda “Jo” Giovannoni. As a co-founder of Harley Women magazine, she shared her love of the sport through articles in newspapers and magazines, and in national television interviews and documentaries. Learn about how Giovannoni inspired riders for over 40 years.

1977 FLH “Blackula” (on display now)
Milwaukee man about town Freddie Franklin purchased his Electra Glide® motorcycle from its original owner, 95-year-old Wallace Brzezinski, with only 4,500 miles on its odometer. And in short order, he completely re-envisioned the bike to reflect his timeless style. The motorcycle incorporates some hallmarks of Franklin’s disparate tastes. A dash of the Coney Island-style bikes – decked out with lights and reflectors – he adored mixed in with elements of Willie G.’s seminal Knucklehead and topped off with details that harken to the 1970s blaxploitation films Franklin watched back in the day. A clear statement of Black pride via the language of vintage motorcycles, this is a bike you must see in-person.

Keith Brammer (Die Kreuzen) leather jacket (on display now)
Perhaps no other genre of music is so closely associated with the classic black leather jacket than punk rock. Keith Brammer, of Milwaukee’s hardcore punk band Die Kreuzen, has graciously lent his well-worn leather to the H-D Museum. The jacket was purchased in New York City in the 1980s and was a constant companion for Brammer throughout his touring days. Check out the Custom Culture gallery to view this piece of Milwaukee music history.

Revolution® Max Engine (on display now)
The brand-new Revolution® Max 1250cc engine powers a new generation of Harley-Davidson® motorcycles. See the liquid-cooled, 60-degree V-Twin that delivers for the Pan America® adventure touring model and the performance cruiser Sportster® S motorcycle. On view in the Museum lobby.

Clubs & Competition (on display now)
In the early part of the 20th century, motorcycle culture was a homegrown phenomenon. It grew out of the passion of riders for their evolving sport. The camaraderie that developed around riding and attending competitive events led to the formation of motorcycle clubs that hosted destination rides, family picnics with motorcycle games and other riding competitions.
The newly reinstalled display case in the Clubs & Competition gallery highlights clothing from club members from primarily the 1930s and 1940s. The clothing selections on view include full dress uniforms, shirts, sweaters, jackets and caps, customized by the owners with their club’s name and logo, and pins or patches indicating membership in the American Motorcyclist Association. The H-D Archives collection includes Motorclothes® apparel sold in H-D® product catalogs but also non-H-D produced clothing items that have been proudly customized by riders.

Harley Fox (on display now)
Gail Anderson’s 1986 Softail® Custom motorcycle, “Harley Fox,” built by her partner Bob Burrows, took top prize at the first Ladies of Harley® (LOH) ride-in show during Daytona Beach Bike Week in 1987. With her custom bike and themed riding gear, Anderson presented a striking image that fit the growing visibility and exciting new options for women riders in the 1980s.

Alfonso Sotomayor’s 1957 Model FL (on display now)
The Harley-Davidson Museum is proud to announce its collection has recently grown with the addition of a 1957 Model FL that was ridden by famed Mexican stunt rider and racer Alfonso Sotomayor Canales.
Harley-Davidson’s history in Mexico dates back to at least 1913. In the 1920s, the brand was more frequently spotted throughout Mexico City as the motorcycles proved popular with the local traffic police who would also perform stunts with their Harley-Davidson® bikes. After racing from the 1930s into the 1960s, Sotomayor launched his own stunt riding career by performing the famed “Salto de la Muerte” or Jump of Death. Learn more about Sotomayor’s feats of derring-do and Harley-Davidson’s early entry into Mexico with this new display located in the Custom Culture area.

“Off-Road Harley-Davidson” (on display now)
In the decades before America paved its highways, early riders had to be prepared for all sorts of terrain: sand, clay or dirt – and wandering those makeshift byways were Harley-Davidson® motorcycles. Today, it’s called off-road or adventure touring; back then it was just called riding. Since 1903, Harley-Davidson® motorcycles proved their toughness by riding over wooded hills, through stone-choked creek beds and up mountain sides. “Off-Road Harley-Davidson” tells the history of motorcycles designed for rough roads, the people who rode them and the adventures they shared.

 

The Harley-Davidson® Shop + Factory Shop
Have you checked out the two new retail shops on the H-D Museum™ campus? Well now might be the perfect time as shelves are stocked with great gift ideas for the holidays. Afterhours shopping on Dec. 8 & 15 make it even easier to roll down and see what Santa’s little helpers have in store. On select days during the H-D Museum’s 12 Days of Holiday Fun, enjoy free gifts with purchase, incentives to bust out that ugly Christmas sweater or your favorite cozy PJS and so much more that even Santa couldn’t squeeze it all into his bag.

1903 EVENTS
Who’s down to add a little extra jingle to your holiday parties? The team at 1903 Events is ready to take your event to the next level. Our unique spaces – including the all-new, 8,200-square-foot Garage – can accommodate parties from 10 to 10,000. Reach out to the world-class sales team at 1903 Events now to make sure your party ends up on the nice list. Be sure to ask about 1903 Event’s special winter booking incentive – all clients who book between now and Feb. 28, 2023, can receive customized lighting at no additional fee.

 

MOTOR® BAR & RESTAURANT
We wish you a very Mele Kalikimaka (Merry Christmas)! As a nod to our Hawaiian Executive Chef, Sione Moonie, we’ve transformed MOTOR into an island paradise for the holidays. Enjoy some of Chef’s favorite local dishes for a limited time. In addition to the monthly specials (see below), be sure to make plans to pop in on Dec. 8 and 15 for a Hawaiian Holiday party with live music, leis, Hawaiian cocktails and double MOTOR Rev Rewards Loyalty Points. Come back on Dec. 11 and 18 with the whole family for Breakfast with Santa and let him know what’s on your list (hint: it’s found at the H-D Shop or Factory Shop). And BBQ & Blues keeps your Saturdays scorching on Dec. 10 & 17.

December Specials (while supplies last):
APPETIZER: Very Merry Musubi
A Hawaiian island favorite! Delicious, deep-fried Spam sandwiched with Hawaiian white rice and wrapped in nori (seaweed). Deep-fried and drizzled with our tasty house-made dynamite and sweet soy sauce. A must-try! $11.95

ENTREE: Ho Ho Ho! Loco Moco
An 8-ounce ground beef patty grilled and served over rice with brown gravy, mushrooms and topped with a fried egg. A delicious and popular Hawaiian dish. $14.95

BURGER: Big Klaus Kahuna Burger
8-oz. Hand-packed ground chuck patty topped with mixed greens, a grilled a pineapple slide, Cheddar cheese, on a brioche bun and slathered with our house-made Hawaiian BBQ chili sauce. Served with French fries. $14.95

BURGER: Santaloha Shrimp Burger
House-made shrimp patty made with panko, mayo, and green onions topped with Cheddar cheese, spinach, fried onions, and a Hawaiian chili sauce, on a split top bun. Served with French fries. $16.95

DESSERT: Holiday Hulu Pie
A dessert exclusive to the islands—you won’t find this anywhere else in Milwaukee! An Oreo crust filled with macadamia nut ice cream topped with drizzled hot fudge and whipped cream and powdered sugar! $14.95

COCKTAILS: Merry Maui Mule
Vodka, lime juice, pineapple juice and splash of ginger beer. $9

Mele Kalikimaka Margarita
Tequila, lime juice, triple sec, agave syrup, cranberry juice. $9

Rum Rum Rudolph
Malibu Rum, blue Caraçao and pineapple juice. $9

 

About the Harley-Davidson Museum
Discover culture and history through stories and interactive exhibits that celebrate expression, camaraderie, and love for the sport at the Harley-Davidson Museum. A visit to the H-D Museum is an experience that will stay with you for a lifetime. With an unrivaled collection of Harley-Davidson® motorcycles and memorabilia, a 20-acre, park-like campus, and a calendar full of activities, the H-D Museum is one of Milwaukee’s top tourist destinations for visitors from around the globe. Make your plans to visit the Harley-Davidson Museum at H-DMuseum.com.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.