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Welcome to the Pedaling History Bicycle Museum!

Pedaling History features one of the world's largest collections of antique and classic American bicycles, including thousands of items of cycling-related memorabilia. We place special emphasis on the social effects of the bicycle--the ways in which it affected practically every American and introduced many modern characteristics of this country, from women's clothing and freedoms ... to product marketing using dealer networks ... to advertising techniques.

Colonel Albert A. Pope, founder of the Columbia bicycle empire and inventor of many modern manufacturing and marketing techniques, is depicted looking over many of his designs.

An unusual marine bicycle floats over cabinets filled with bicycle memorabilia--medals, trophies, lamps, sheet music, and advertising--tracing the bicycle's influence on social and technological history in and on America. The high wheel in front is arranged so visitors can mount it and get a feel for the experience of being mounted on a bicycle as high as a horse.

The museum has nearly one hundred pneumatic-tired safety bikes of special interest, including racers, many with their specific history as traced by the curators and owners, Carl and Clarice Burgwardt.

Another of our newest exhibits is of 1890s military bicycles. These three machines have been retrofitted with the exact specifications that the Pope Manufacturing Company of Hartford, CT, offered them to the United States Government back in the 1890s, complete with the rifles, pistols, Colt machine gun, and other field equipment.

Local Historic Bicycle Returned Home

In the 1930s Henry Ford was acquiring all sorts of historical artifact to create a great historical museum in Dearborn, Michigan which is today known as Greenfield Village, the Henry Ford Museum. One of the seemingly insignificant items among his 1930 acquisitions was a bicycle that was labeled as "1871 - made in Orchard Park, New York". The source listed, "Irving T. Thornton of Buffalo, New York". more...

We have also recently added a very rare 1883 Otto Dicycle to our collection; a large two wheeled bicycle on which the gentlemen rider sits between two large wheels, one on each side of him. This is the only one of its kind in America and one of only a few remaining in the world. The machine is completely restored to its original condition.

Pedaling History Bicycle Museum:

is a AAA listed tourist attraction
is a stop for many Bus Tours
has entertained and informed visitors from 35 foreign countries and all 50 states.
has Special Events and Programs throughout the year.
has a Gift Shop featuring quality bicycle books and a wide variety of gift items.
is the biggest and most complete Bicycle Museum in the United States
In 1996 the museum published a second edition of the book Collecting & Restoring Antique Bicycles, by G. Donald Adams and in 2001 published Buffalo's Bicycles, a history of bicycling activity in the Buffalo area, by museum owner Carl Burgwardt.
In September of 1996 the museum sponsored the Seventh International Cycle History Conference in Buffalo. Participants came from all over the world for this event.

Near Niagara Falls and Buffalo, New York, at:

3943 North Buffalo Road
Orchard Park, NY 14127-1841
(716) 662 - 3853

Mon - Sat: 11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Sundays: 1:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Adults $6. Seniors $5.40 Children $3.75 Family $17.50

Click to email Pedaling History

Download our descriptive Brochure.