Serial Number One in the Harley Davidson Museum
A life-size statue of Fonzi at the RiverWalk
Bobbleheads in the National Bobblehead Museum
Motorcycles. At the Harley-Davidson Museum, the first thing I notice are the pristine white tires of “Serial Number One,” circa 1903. Looking more like a belt-driven bicycle, it’s the oldest Harley-Davidson in the world and perhaps the crowning jewel of the museum’s 140 displayed bikes on two floors. “You know how those old cars would start by cranking the handle to kick- start the engine—same here,” explains museum tour guide Christina Grev. “You put the kickstand down and peddle really hard to kick-start the engine and the belt would go around.” The motorcycles with their shiny wheel guards, gas tanks, steel exhaust pipes, and tires still brimming with thick tread—even the old bikes— are mostly brand new. That’s because starting in 1915, the company took a bike off the assembly line every year. “It’s pretty amazing that the company so early on decided to build and start their collection,” notes Grev. That collection includes Harley-Davidson’s iconic 1936 EL model with its cream-colored fenders and the 1954 KH model painted in bright “Anniversary Yellow” to mark 50 years in business. At the end of the tour, visitors can sit on brand new Harley-Davidsons and imagine revving them up while posing for photos. Milwaukee’s quirky side emerges with a visit to the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and
Museum featuring the world’s largest collection of up to 10,000 dolls. “Who doesn’t like a bobblehead?” exclaims museum co-founder and CEO Phil Sklar. “They have that motion that gives them that extra aspect of fun—part of pop culture—and they’ve remained the same since they were introduced.” Yankee sluggers clutch bats and Star Wars caricatures grasp their lightsabers, while past presidents with their beards and long coattails stand side by side with modern day politicians and first ladies. Sport figures dominate the collection, including Milwaukee Brewers and Bucks bobbleheads, but shelves also feature the likes of Marilyn Monroe, the Three Stooges, Flintstone characters, Reformer Martin Luther, and even Jesus. Another quirky attraction is the venue that makes the Dairy State’s famous wedge-shaped hats, where visitors can make one, too, from liquid polyurethane. “We have the original cheesehead hat that you see at the Green Bay Packers games,” says Peter Waldron, Director of Tours and Corporate Sales at the Foamation Original Cheesehead Factory. “It’s just a quirky fun thing.” Wisconsinite Ralph Bruno started the company in 1987 in response to the somewhat derogatory name becoming popular with local sports fans. “Ralph invented his cheesehead hat
ON THE WISCONSIN WATERFRONT
COAST TO COAST MAGAZINE SUMMER 2022 | 30
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