If the National Motorcycle Museum has been on your list of places to visit, you had better plan a trip there this summer. The museum announced Saturday that it will be closing permanently on or about Sept. 5, 2023, and its collection of hundreds of motorcycles will be returned to their owners or auctioned off.  

A post on the museum’s Facebook page Saturday stated that its board of directors has decided to close the facility due to a lack of revenue. The closing date was set to allow those attending the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally and another motorcycle event in nearby Davenport, Iowa, a chance to visit the museum one last time. 

Located in Anamosa, Iowa, and established by J&P Cycles founder and AMA Hall of Famer John Parham, the museum operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and relocated to its current location – a former Wal-Mart – in 2010. The museum’s marketing materials state it is home to more than 450 motorcycles manufactured by domestic and international marques. The museum’s exhibit hall also features numerous pieces of motorcycle- and transportation-related memorabilia. 

The museum is about a nine-hour drive or ride from northeast Ohio via interstates. The fastest route is to take the Ohio Turnpike and Indiana Toll Road (Interstates 80/90) west, then follow I-80 west though Chicago’s south side to Davenport, Iowa, and then take U.S. Route 61 north to Iowa State Route 64 west. The museum is located on Iowa SR 64 at its interchange with U.S. Route 151. 

For those who dislike taking interstates or toll roads, an alternative route is U.S. Route 30 through north-central Ohio and Northern Indiana to Chicago’s south side. From there, you can continue on U.S. 30 or take U.S. Route 6 to reach eastern Iowa. 

The section of Iowa SR 64 from U.S. 61 to Anamosa is part of the Grant Wood Scenic Byway, which runs through the picturesque rural landscapes featured in artist Grant Wood’s paintings. 

Lodging is available in Anamosa, though visitors can opt to stay near Davenport – about an hour from Anamosa – to check out local attractions there, including the Iowa 80 Truck Stop and Iowa 80 Trucking Museum in Walcott. 

To learn more about the museum, visit its website at http://nationalmcmuseum.org.