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Black Meetings & Tourism April/May 2009: www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 71 HARLEY DAVIDSON MUSEUM A UNIQUE MEETINGS EXPERIENCE BY PATRICE A. KELLY Looking for an off-the-beaten-track, out-of-the-ordinary, unique and memorable venue for your next event? Well, grab your leathers and rumble up to the Harley Davidson Museum in Milwaukee, WI. Located on a 20-acre parcel at the junction of Sixth and Canal St. in downtown Milwaukee, the 130,000-sq. ft. gleam- ing glass, brick and steel structure incorporates striking urban design elements while engaging the surrounding water and green spaces. Bordered by a beautiful riverfront on three sides, the Harley-Davidson Museum provides a unique desti- nation to host any event. The idea for the museum comes out of the company archives. From the very beginning there was a move to preserve the Harley- Davidson legacy. Most of the motorcycles in the museum were deliberately preserved for posteri- ty. Imagine your attendees strolling through over 100 years of motorcy- cle history. The very first motorcy- cle built by William S. Harley and the Davidson Brothers known only as "No. 1" and sporting it's white rubber tires, stands in a spe- cial display case. Subsequent Harley models line the halls of the museum creating a three-dimensional timeline of motor- cycle design. For special events, customization is the key says Amanda Lee, manager of communication for the Harley Davidson Motor Company, "The beauty of the special events space at the museum is that we can customize to fit a variety of budg- ets and a variety of ideas for what you want your event to be," she says. "So whether it's customizing the space, or whether it's customizing the menu we really want people to know we can fit any occasion." Indoor event spaces are equipped for as few as 20 people and as many as 1,050. With its clean and simple room interi- ors, the museum is geared up to host a corporate meeting or social gathering. All of the indoor meeting spaces in the Museum are equipped with state-of-the-art audio/visual capabilities, podiums, easels and feature views of the Milwaukee skyline and Menomonee River. The campus consists of three buildings: The Museum, the Annex a.k.a. "The Garage" and the Restaurant/Retail Building. The Museum houses the exciting and interactive Harley motorcycle exhibits with the 2,130-sq. ft lobby avail- able for receptions or meetings. It will accommodate up to 120 people for a sit down luncheon or dinner and up to 213 for a reception. The building also contains five smaller meet- ing rooms ranging in size from 361 sq. ft to 1,007 sq. ft. The Museum and "The Garage" are connected by The Archives Bridge. This long, open area is graced with a two- story wall of steel and glass and affords a wonderful view of the landscaped grounds and Menomonee River. This 1,066- sq. ft. area can handle up to 105 people for a reception. "The Garage" holds 10,456 sq. ft of temporary exhibit space with room for 1,053 people for a reception, up to 740 for a sit down dinner, or seats 804 people classroom style. On the other side of the campus, The 1903 Bridge joins the Museum to the Restaurant/Retail building. Also bordered by a steel and glass wall, this 1,388-sq. ft. space can host a 142-person reception. The Motor Restaurant is 7,250 sq. ft. of customizable space and the adjacent Patio 13, a 1,000- sq. ft. area, can accommodate a 100- person reception. Upstairs you find the Rumble, a versatile 5,851-sq. ft. space that includes a recessed, the- ater-sized movie screen and can hold 579 attendees for a reception, up to 490 for a sit down dinner, 804 people seated classroom style and 580 theater-style. For outdoor events, the Museum grounds feature picnic and seating areas allowing people to enjoy the unique Museum architecture and the Milwaukee riverfront, and can handle as many as 15,000 people. With six customizable lawn areas and two terraces, individual outdoor receptions of 1,000 to 10,000 attendees can be accommodat- ed. Outdoor spaces can also be equipped with electricity for bands and live entertainment. In partnership with Levy Restaurants, The Museum menu options cover everything from breakfast to formal dinners. Menu selections include offerings such as "Road King Breakfast" with all the fixings, to New York strip steak pre- pared on a custom-built barbeque, fired up right outside the Museum. Guests can also make their own menu suggestions to fit their preferences and budget. "One of the advantages that we have for special events is nobody can duplicate the Harley Davidson experience, it's something that we own and only we own," says Lee. "So when people do plan special events at the museum we are offering them an experience that's a one-of a kind experience. And that's really our advantage and it's something that we think creates an event that is truly unforgettable." For more information call (877) 436-8738. The Harley Davidson Museum