Following the Harley Davidson History Timeline

Although the Harley Davidson history timeline begins in the year 1901 with the completion of a blueprint of an engine designed to fit on a bicycle which was completed by William S. Harley, the first official Harley Davidson was not produced until 1903. In following the Harley Davidson timeline, important events stand out such as:

• 1912 – Construction begins on the Harley Davidson headquarters in Milwaukee, WI
• 1918 – Harley Davidson supports the US involvement in World War I by providing the majority of the motorcycles used by US troops
• 1933 – The Harley Davidson insignia begins appearing on all gas tanks
• 1949 – Hydraulic front forks are first introduced on Harleys
• 1953 – Harley Davidson celebrates its 50^th anniversary
• 1971 – The FX 1200 Super Glide was introduced
• 1987 – Harley Davidson stock goes public

Learning about Harley Davidson History

Those who are interested in learning more about Harley Davidson history have a number of choices for learning more about the Harley Davidson company in the present as well as in the past. Visiting the Harley Davidson website can give readers a great deal of insight into the current events in the company. From their homepage they provide links to more information on important news such as quarterly earnings and limited offers. Additionally, their company page has a wealth of historical information including a timeline documenting important events and milestones in the company’s history which has spanned over 100 years.

The library and the Internet can also be worthwhile resources for learning more about the history of this company. There are many websites dedicated to the subject. There have also been a number of books written to detail the history of the Harley Davidson company.

Taking a Harley Davidson Factory Tour

Harley Davidson factory tours are available in three of the company’s manufacturing facilities. These tours offer visitors some insight into the creativity, dedication and work which goes into designing and building these powerful machines.

The facility in Wauwatosa, WI focuses on providing guests with information on the revolution of the engine design from the early models to the modern models. Visitors also watch a historical video and visit the factory floor where they witness the assembly of Sportster and Buell powertrains.

The facility in York, PA focuses on providing information about the custom vehicle operations process (CVO). This tour also includes a historic video and a visit to the factory floor. Additionally, the PA facility offers a play area for children under the age of 12.

Finally the Kansas City, MO facility focuses on highlighting the manufacturing and assembly processes used in the facility. Similarly to the other factory tours, visitors will start their tour with a short video presentation and will also visit the factory floor to view the assembly process.

Learn about Harley Davidson History at the Harley Davidson Museum

The Harley Davidson museum is set to open in the year 2008. This museum will be located in Milwaukee, WI and will offer visitors the opportunity to learn a great deal about Harley Davidson history. The museum will be approximately 130,000 square feet and will feature exhibits, a restaurant, a retail shop, meeting facilities and facilities for special events. Additionally, the corporate archives will be housed on the premise.

Some of the proposed exhibits for the museum include:

• The motorcycle from the year 1903 with the serial number one
• A Harley Davidson owned by Elvis Presley
• A customized motorcycle that is over 13 feet long and has two engines

Financial History of the Harley Davidson Company

Before investing in the Harley Davidson company it is wise to spend some time reviewing the financial history of the company. This is an important step which should be taken before making any significant financial investment. The Harley Davidson website makes it easy to study the financial history of the company. The investor relations page of the website provides stock graphs enabling users to view the stock data for the past five years. The website also offers PDF files of the annual financial reports dating back for five years. They also offer financial statements such as income statements and balance sheets for the past five year. Investors can use all of this information to make an informed decision regarding whether or not to invest in Harley Davidson.