AACA Museum Exhibit Presents HD as America's Motorcycle

Bike Show

Ever wonder why Harley-Davidson is considered the quintessential American motorcycle? The Antique Automobile Club of America Museum (AACA) is taking a stab at the answer with a summer-long exhibition entitled, Harley-Davidson: History, Mythology, and Perceptions of America’s Motorcycle. The exhibition runs until October 20, 2019. Here is a preview and a bit about the museum.

Photos courtesy of AACA Museum, Inc.

Interactive Exhibits

Located in Hershey, Pennsylvania, the AACA is a Smithsonian affiliated museum dedicated to the preservation and presentation of vintage automobiles and their vast history. Billed as a 'one-of-a-kind journey of discovery,' the museum invites guests of all ages to explore the numerous vintage vehicle displays and interactive exhibits featuring cars, buses, and motorcycles from the 1890s to the 1980s.

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Cult-Like Success

Curators Rob Kain and Dave Russell explore Harley-Davidson's story in conjunction with America's history over the past one-hundred years. The Motor Company is presented as an American success story, but one that is rife with both success and failure. Kain and Russell also elaborate on how Harley-Davidson enjoys a cult-like status with a brand that evokes strong emotions among riders and non-riders alike.

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Detailed Story

The Harley-Davidson story is told from the beginning. The exhibition examines how motorcycles were developed in response to economics, cheap fuel prices and the need to travel long distances. Historical details are revealed about the Motor Company's past and factors that led to its success, such as how it gained dominance over the American motorcycle market after Indian Motorcycle folded in 1953.

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Rebellious Brand

The exhibition delves into some of the mythology that surrounds Harley-Davidson. How the rebellious biker film The Wild One seemingly transformed motorcyclists into hard-drinking, hell-raising outcasts bent on undermining the very moral fiber of America. Harley-Davidson as the 'blue-collar' and fringe motorcycle club brand choice is explored, as well as the influence of the 1960s 'chopper-craze' on production motorcycles. 

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Repeat History

Post-war America is showcased through Harley-Davidson's small-displacement motorcycles. In 1903, Milwaukee was home to numerous motorcycle and small engine manufacturers. The first Harley-Davidson prototype borrowed ideas from the 'Flying Merkel' and outboard engine manufacturer Ole Evinrude. In a move that reflected the Motor Company's early days, war reparations provided the blueprints for the DKW, and production soon began on smaller machines in an attempt to increase sales. 

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Import Tax

In an attempt to stave-off receivership, Harley-Davidson was sold to the American Machine and Foundry (AMF) in 1969. In 1983, Harley-Davidson petitioned the International Trade Commission (ITC) to impose a five-year tariff on import motorcycles above 700cc. The ITC agreed. By 1987, Harley-Davidson was listed on the New York Stock Exchange, and the Motor Company asked the ITC to remove the tariff ahead of its expiration date. 

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Unique Producer

History, Mythology, and Perceptions of America’s Motorcycle present Harley-Davidson as a uniquely American innovation, its past reputation and what the future may hold. The AACA Museum is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and offers guided tours for larger groups. Hershey, Pennsylvanian is also home to the world-famous chocolate producer, incidentally founded the same year as Harley-Davidson — 1903.

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