Milwaukee, Wisconsin is America’s hog heaven.
The city celebrates its status as the birthplace of Harley-Davidson motorcycles, a high-powered global symbol of American freedom, as the GOP Convention shortly rolls into town.
Delegates to the Republican National Convention say they’re fueled by positive vibes and energy — and some plan to make the Harley-Davidson Museum a key stop during the celebrations and events.
Milwaukee “isn’t necessarily a place where many of our delegates have been before,” Jessica Patterson, chair of the California GOP, said in a release, adding that she wants delegates to get a feel for Milwaukee’s history and culture.
Among other stops, the California delegation’s tour of Milwaukee history will include a luncheon at the Harley-Davidson Museum, according to the release. Fox News Digital reached out to the company and to the museum for additional comment.
The showcase of American motorcycle heritage opened 16 years ago, on July 12, 2008. It’s proven a destination for motorcycle enthusiasts and non-riders interested in American heritage.
The three-building complex on 20 acres contains over 450 Harley-Davidson motorcycles and hundreds of thousands of artifacts from Harley-Davidson’s history, according to the company.
“The Harley-Davidson Museum tells more than the story of a motorcycle brand,” reports travel website wandertooth.com.
“It tells the story of Milwaukee and – it’s really hard to write this in a way that doesn’t sound completely cheesy — of the American Dream.“
The museum celebrates the company’s influence on popular cultural and American heritage and also chronicles the dramatic story of the brand, which often teetered on the brink of disaster.
Harley-Davidson was founded in Milwaukee in 1903 by William Harley and partners and brothers Arthur, Walter and William Davidson.
Harley and the Davidson boys grew up neighbors and friends. Harley and Arthur Davidson were both bicycle enthusiasts and mechanics.
They began tinkering with small internal combustion engines. They put motors on bicycles – their first Harley-Davidson motorcycles. Harley-Davidson, the museum notes, sold just three motorcycles in 1905.
Republican former Vice President Mike Pence is often seen riding a Harley-Davidson wearing cowboy boots, blue jeans and a leather vest. He named his new puppy Harley while serving as VP in 2017.
South Dakota’s Republican Gov. Kristi Noem is a familiar face at the state’s legendary Sturgis Motorcycle Rally.
The Republican Party held its first national convention in Pittsburgh in 1856. Then, at its next national convention, it nominated Abraham Lincoln for president in 1860.
All told, the RNC is expected to bring more than 50,000 visitors to Milwaukee, according to the city itself. The convention runs from Monday, July 15, 2024, to Thursday, July 18, 2024.
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