The new exhibit at the Harley-Davidson Museum in Milwaukee kicks off today (June 15): “Daredevils: A Century of Spine-Tingling Spectacles.
And tomorrow (Father’s Day, June 16) dads get in for free.
“What began with horse trick riders in circuses inspired new generations of entertainers on bicycles, motorcycles, cars – even flying sofa chairs,” the museum tells us.
This exhibit celebrates the history of these death-defying entertainers who spend coutless hours perfecting their exploits.
Performers featured include:
- The Urias Family Globe of Death, which was first constructed in 1912 in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Four generations of the Urias family thrilled audiences the world over with their gravity-defying performances within the globe before it was retired in 2009;
- The Harley-Davidson XR-750 ridden by Evel Knievel, during his famed 1975 Wembley Stadium jump. (On loan from Evel Knievel Museum);
- A rocket-powered, custom-built motorcycle (aka The Space Cycle) that was designed to jump Niagara Falls and was outfitted with helicopter blades to aid in its flight;
- And the living room furniture piece that was employed by the creative (some might say mad) geniuses at Nitro Circus to attempt the world’s first “reclining sofa chair jump.”
“Daredevils” opens Saturday, June 15 and runs through Sunday, Sept. 8.