After a stoic 34-year run, the National Motorcycle Museum is closing down for good September 5, 2023. Once one of the preeminent motorcycle museums in the country, its board of directors finally decided to shut its doors after years of financial struggles. Founded by J&P Cycles’ dynamic husband-wife duo John and Jill Parham in 1989, the museum first opened in Sturgis, South Dakota, with a modest 40 motorcycles on display. In 2001, it moved to Anamosa, Iowa, and at one point housed more than 500 rare and collectible motorcycles and memorabilia.
“It was a very hard decision and it was an emotional decision because my husband and I started this together,” Jill Parham said. “We have struggled for years to cover wages and utilities, partly due to low visitation.”
The pandemic also hit the nonprofit museum hard as it had to close its doors for several months. Harsh Iowa winters didn’t help attendance either. Losing founder and driving force John Parham to pulmonary fibrosis in 2017 dealt the museum another cruel blow.
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INSANE THROTTLE 