People visit museums to learn about how things are, how things were, and maybe gain some insight as to where things are going. A number of exceptional transportation museums carry this burden well, one of them being the Haas Moto Museum in Dallas, Texas.
A spectacular arrangement of motorbikes from various eras and design philosophies takes visitors on a very cool journey through a very cool building. While the museum is largely centered around motorcycle performance, it’s certainly not limited to that genre and absolutely shows people so many different bikes that it’s a little shocking so many different kinds of motorbikes have been made. One great thing about the museum is that you don’t need to be a fan of motorcycles to enjoy some time there. The art of the motorcycle is omnipresent throughout; the displays of engineering are stunningly intriguing as well. While the bikes are obviously the main attraction, the museum itself is also a fun read, with art and sculpture sprinkled throughout. There are even some very cool shadow displays thanks to bikes hung from the ceiling. Most of the bikes are set upon their own, low-rise stand complete with a short description of the motorcycle. In fact, a few board track racers are set upon stands that look like old board tracks. The details are subtle, but when they’re seen they enrich the overall experience with further depth and breadth – to that end, those board track racers are bronze sculptures, yet at first glance, especially from a distance, look like the real deal. If nothing else, some time at the Haas Moto Museum ends with a deeper appreciation for motorcycles and their place in history and engineering.
While the Museum is also home to a great little gift shop, there are some very cool seating areas as well. There’s also a very cool, but off limits, area where maintenance and detailing and so on takes place. They allowed Garage Style behind the closed doors and it was quite the treat. Browse through our photos and stay tuned for some video soon. One of the parts of Garage Style is being able to take readers where only a few can go! But, in touring the museum, it’s a wonderful experience that not only shows some of the history of motorcycles, but intertwines very interesting moments that maybe have little to nothing to do with the machines, but rather just the human side.
The museum is named for its founder, Bobby Haas. With the help of his life partner, Stacey Mayfield, the museum was founded as a place where people could learn about motorcycles while being inspired by their art and engineering, their history and influences. Bobby passed away in 2021, but Stacey sustains the original vision with a dedicated team while building on its legacy for future generations to enjoy. While continually evolving the displays inside the museum, the Museum also hosts a number of special events throughout the year. Definitely well worth a visit.
