American Motorcycle Clubs

Motorcycling has always been, for many riders, a social activity. So sometime shortly after the second motorcycle was sold, someone formed the first motorcycle club.

The rich history of motorcycle clubs in the United States is reflected in American Motorcycle Clubs, an exhibit now on display at the Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum. Some of the items in the exhibit date back to the 1910s and pre-date the American Motorcyclist Association itself. Other photos, banners, patches, pins, uniforms and memorabilia reflect the surge of interest in organized clubs in the post-War era.

While major exhibits at the Museum rely heavily on motorcycles and items borrowed from private owners, most of what's on display in American Motorcycle Clubs comes from the Museum's own permanent collection.

"Many people have these types of ephemera that have been handed down from generation to generation and they want to do the right thing with them, rather than just leaving them in the attic," said Museum Executive Director Mark Mederski. "By donating these pins, patches, photos and other materials to the Museum, the donors can be assured that not only are the items being preserved, but they will also be available to be enjoyed by Museum visitors and studied by historians and authors who turn to the Museum in their research."

The American Motorcycle Clubs exhibit is also an example of how the Museum is working to maximize its resources. The exhibit is displayed in a foyer that was previously unused space between an archive room and a meeting room. By opening it up as exhibit space, the Museum was able to put more artifacts from its permanent collection on display for visitors to enjoy.