Preserving the history of motorcycling in the Pacific
Northwest
Among those welcoming the antique motorcycles on the
Cannonball Endurance Run when it arrived in Tacoma this September from Dayton
Beach, Florida, were Thomas Samuelsen and Jack Mackey of the Pacific Northwest
Motorcycle Museum.
The Museum uses digital media, physical displays and events
to educate the public about the past and the present of motorcycling in the
Pacific Northwest. It also hopes to preserve that history.
Though the Museum doesn’t have a physical location, you can
take a great tour of the past on its website. Pnwmom.org. For instance, you can
learn the somewhat harrowing myth about the origin of the trophy for the Death
Head Derby—and the more prosaic truth. You can learn about the 1911 Endurance
Run from Seattle to Vancouver and back and about the hard-fought races at a
three-day meet in Portland in 1919.
What do you know about the history of snow runs? You know
about Snow Camp on President’s Day weekend and about the Snowline ride, but do
you know how the whole idea got it’s start? Check the Education tab on the
Museum’s website and find out. The Museum even has “home movies” of early snow
rides, which it will put online.
The website has some fascinating information about the
history of Seattle’s motorcycle police, too. And they are looking for more. Do
you have any relatives or ancestors who were in the force? Any memorabilia or
photos? The Museum can preserve it in its collection, or copy and return it.
The Museum has panel displays about these historic
happenings, which it brings to various events. Their website has a schedule of
events at which it will display its exhibits.
For now, the Museum doesn’t have a permanent
building. You can learn how to help with that, how to donate items, and how to
help preserve our history on the Museum website. A Museum without a physical
location is always in search of safe, dry storage space. Maybe you can help.
Contact information is on the website: http://www.pnwmom.org/.
Yet, there’s no denying it: Unless you plan to ride exclusively around the Southern United States, you’ll face some chilly winters. And even before it...
