Sturgis is synonymous with motorcycles and the people who love them. So it makes sense to have a museum all about motorcycles right here in Sturgis! Visitors come all year long looking for motorcycle-related businesses and attractions. After visiting us, they leave knowing a lot more of motorcycling history.
Our curated collection of cycles is put on display to draw the indescribable connection between the machine and the stories of the people who ride them. We invite you to browse our online gallery, then visit us in person to see the full showcase of vintage bikes and memorabilia. Our collection is always changing…
The Hall of Fame is here to recognize individuals or groups who have made a long-term, positive impact on the motorcycle community. We honor our Hall of Fame members, by telling the stories that showcase their contributions and accomplishments. In doing this, we hope to inspire our visitors and the riding community.
Currently, you will find the Hall of Fame display in the lower level of the Museum. The exhibit includes various items, videos, and vehicles that help talk about these great people. When the fundraising is finished for the expansion project and the new additions are complete, the Hall of Fame will have a new home. The new space will be dedicated to those we honor and thank for the lifestyle and sport so many enjoy.
History
How We Became a Museum
In a joint effort, the Museum's Board of Directors, the Jackpine Gypsies Motorcycle Club, local students, and members of the Sturgis community gathered on March 10th, 2001 to scrape, sand, and paint the old church building next to the Pyramid Bar. Shortly after, the Museum was born. Gene and Nancy Flagler, owners of the church, determined that the rent should be a whopping $1.00 a month, helping to make the Museum's first and most critical year a little easier to manage financially.
The Sturgis Motorcycle Museum & Hall of Fame opened its doors to the public on June 1, 2001. Local and national collectors loaned the new Museum a selection of vintage and rare V-twin and metric motorcycles, offering visitors a glimpse into the magnificent world of two wheels.
After only a year in business, the City of Sturgis was so impressed with the Museum's progress that it offered the old Post Office on the corner of legendary Main Street and Junction Avenue as the Museum's new home. With financial support from the State of South Dakota and many other contributors, the Museum was able to open the doors on its present location in 2002.
Through the years, the Museum has continued to grow, opening its lower level in August 2003. With several exhibit rooms and an increasingly impressive selection of unique motorcycles, the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum offers a world-class experience for visitors and has been listed as one of the '1,000 Places to See Before You Die' by author Patricia Schultz.
Today, the Museum is open year round, seven days a week. Summer months are the busiest as people flock to this motorcycle mecca, culminating in August during the famous Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. Motorcycles and exhibits are changed on a regular basis to offer repeat visitors something fresh each time they stop in.
