Tucked away on the Newburgh/New Windsor line lies the hottest history on two wheels: Motorcyclepedia Museum, which pegs itself as the second-largest motorcycle museum in the world — a point that’s hard to argue when it takes hours to see all that’s on display.
Gerald “Jerry” Doering raced Indian motorcycles in the late 1940s. His son, Ted Doering, favored choppers. Their collection of bi-wheeled powerhouses soon numbered in the hundreds, and the father and son opened the museum in April 2011.
The museum houses an original of each Indian model made by the original Springfield company, from 1901 to 1953. But that’s just scraping the surface of this 85,000 sq ft museum, which includes just about every incarnation of motorcycle, from the oldest running one (an 1897 De-Dion Bouton) up to 2018 Harley-Davidsons.
Scenic Rides
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Tour guides include volunteer enthusiasts, whose passion for the two-wheeled wonders overflows as they energetically lead visitors through each of the museum’s several galleries. Besides the Indian Timeline and Harley-Davidsons, other galleries include Chopper City, the Circa Timeline (with replicas of steam-powered motorcycles), police and military motorcycles, the Ed Youngblood Hall of award-winning antique motorcycles, and a tribute to local motorcycle legend Indian Larry (whose ashes, encased in a chromed Panhead cylinder urn, are on display).
Motorcyclepedia Museum contributes to local causes, including the annual Newburgh Illuminated Festival, and offers its space for rental to local organizations for fundraisers and events as well.
250 Lake St, Newburgh; 845.569.9065; www.motorcyclepediamuseum.org
