National Motorcycle Museum Iowa Closing

It’s been just over a year since the Hawkeye motorcycle community bid farewell to a beloved institution, as the National Motorcycle Museum in Anamosa, Iowa, closed its doors for the last time on September 4, 2023. For 22 years, this small-town gem housed an impressive collection of over 500 motorcycles, a notable bicycle collection, and thousands of pieces of memorabilia. Reflecting on its closure, we celebrate its contributions to preserving motorcycle history and culture.

An Iowa Institution

Founded by J&P Cycles creators John and Jill Parham, the National Motorcycle Museum operated as one of only six non-profit motorcycle museums in America. Its location in eastern Iowa might have seemed unexpected to some, but it became a pilgrimage site for motorcycle enthusiasts from across the country.

The museum’s extensive collection spanned the entire history of motorcycling, from pioneer-era machines to classic hogs to the latest in high tech. Visitors could trace the evolution of two-wheeled transportation, marveling at how technology and design progressed over the decades. The museum didn’t just showcase motorcycles; it told the story of American ingenuity, freedom, and the open road.

One of the museum’s most popular features was the “Bike of the Week” showcase. This rotating exhibit highlighted unique or historically significant motorcycles, providing in-depth information about each featured bike. The final Bike of the Week, fittingly, was not a motorcycle but a 1929 Morgan Aero—a three-wheeled vehicle that bridges the gap between motorcycles and cars and highlights the depth of the museum’s collection.

Insurmountable Challenges

Despite its cultural significance, the museum faced challenges in recent years. Board Chairman Jill Parham cited low visitation numbers and struggles to cover operational costs as critical factors in closing. This unfortunate situation underscores the difficulties many specialized museums face in our attention economy, where competition for eyeballs and entertainment dollars is fierce.

The closure of the National Motorcycle Museum serves as a reminder of the importance of supporting such institutions. These museums play a crucial role in preserving our cultural heritage, providing tangible connections to history that can’t be replicated through books or digital media alone.

Looking Ahead—And Behind

For motorcycle enthusiasts, the loss of the National Motorcycle Museum Iowa is a difficult one to replace. It also raises questions about the future of such specialized museums and how they can adapt to changing times while maintaining their core mission of preservation and education.

As we say goodbye to the National Motorcycle Museum Iowa, we can take solace in its impact during its years of operation. Countless visitors walked through its doors and left having learned something about motorcycle history and culture. The museum’s legacy lives on in the memories of those who experienced its collection, and in the broader understanding of motorcycle heritage it helped to foster.

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