RENO, Nev. (August 18, 2021) — The National Automobile Museum is excited to announce the opening of its newest exhibit, America and the Motorcycle: 1900-1990.
The National Automobile Museum opens a unique and entertaining motorcycle exhibit Tuesday, August 31, 2021, just in time for the annual “Street Vibrations” event downtown. The Museum will exhibit over two dozen vintage machines that portray the role of the motorcycle in the United States from the early 1900s to 1990.
The motorcycle has been a significant contributor to daily life from basic, economical transportation to a lifestyle of freedom on the open road. With each new decade, the motorcycle adapted and took on new roles as people’s needs changed. This story is supported with cameo snapshots of some of the people who were influential in this history locally and nationally.
We begin our trip through time with popular bicycles and the addition of small air-cooled engines to form the belt-driven single-cylinder forerunner to today’s powerful multi-cylinder superbikes from road racers to bobbers. Our story progresses through the Great Depression, two World Wars, the migration to the suburbs, racing, and recreation.
“The purpose of the National Automobile Museum’s newest exhibit America and the Motorcycle: 1900-1990 is to educate visitors about the important role motorcycles have played in American transportation history,” said Phil MacDougall, NAM’s executive director. “This exhibit celebrates the restoration and preservation of vintage machines from bicycles to scooters to motorcycles to drag bikes and side cars.”
The exhibit opens on Tuesday, August 31st at 11 a.m., with an official ribbon cutting, followed by refreshments.
The National Automobile Museum has worked closely with the Comstock Chapter of the Antique Motorcycle Club of America to collect machines from the obscure to the popular. Harley Davidson, Indian, Excelsior, Vincent, Iver Johnson, BSA, Honda, Triumph, BMW, Yamaha, Powell, Puch, and others cover the range of basic transportation to flat track and land speed record racing to recreational and trail riding to the powerful and aerodynamic superbikes of today.
AMCA members who show their membership cards will receive a $3 discount on admissions to the Museum.
For more information about the National Automobile Museum, named one of America’s Top 10 Automobile Museums, visit automuseum.org or call 775-333-9300.