To mark the 35th anniversary of Evel Knievel's famous Wembley Stadium jump in London on May 26, 1975, the Harley-Davidson Museum will host True Evel: The Amazing Story of Evel Knievel, this summer. This special exhibition celebrates the iconic stuntman's life and legend.
During his seminal attempt to jump 13 London buses, Knievel crashed on the landing and broke his pelvis. Immediately following the event, he announced a brief retirement to 90,000 fans (which ended just as abruptly when he later staged several other high-profile jumps). It was all part of the legendary showman's persona, which attracted and inspired people around the world, including generations of would-be backyard daredevils and professional stunters alike. The aura still reverberates today.
"Like many other kids growing up in the 1970s, I was a big fan of Evel Knievel, and I am thrilled to bring this exhibit celebrating his amazing life to a new audience. His spirit resonates with people of all ages, and there definitely is a little Evel in all of us," said Bill Davidson, Vice President of the Harley-Davidson Museum.
In that spirit, the Harley-Davidson Museum invites visitors to an event that celebrates America's favorite daredevil through an exclusive, first-of-its-kind temporary exhibition - the largest the Museum has ever presented.
Using it to set numerous death-defying feats over his career, Knievel's bike of choice was the Harley-Davidson XR-750 and he was sponsored by the Motor Company through most of the 1970s. From Knievel's early start as a sideshow character in Butte, Montana, to his transformation into a larger-than-life master showman, marketer, and folk hero with international appeal, the 10,000-square-foot exhibit highlights the story of the man behind the seemingly fearless performer.
Visitors will see legendary pieces, including his signature leathers and cane, personal photographs and letters, collectors' toys and memorabilia, and the rocket-inspired Skycycle X-2 used in Knievel's infamous 1974 attempt to jump Idaho's Snake River Canyon.
The exhibit runs July 10 through September 6 and tells the story of Evel Knievel through fascinating artifacts drawn from both the Harley-Davidson Archives and the Knievel family collection. For more information about the True Evel exhibit or the Harley-Davidson Museum, log onto h-dmuseum.com/visit.