Posted 4 years ago
dav2no1
(839 items)
2003 Grand Opening of The Pioneer Motorcycle Museum
The poster is: 40" x 27"
This is my collection from the 2003 grand opening of the pioneer Motorcycle Museum in Tacoma Washington.
Marty Moloney was involved in a huge battle with the City of Tacoma. He was spending his own money to build a gigantic Museum (51,000-square-foot) and tourist attraction. The city refused to spend any money to improve the road to his Museum which was a worn-out industrial road. Sadly because of this, the museum opened but only for a short period.
It is possible, that at that time, the city already knew that the Lemay Car Museum was in the works. America's Car Museum broke ground in 2010 and opened in 2012 next to the Tacoma Dome, which is not that far away from where the Pioneer motorcycle museum was located.
MARTY MOLONEY & HIS COLLECTION
Marty Moloney, the sole owner of a major marine and industrial sandblasting and painting company in Tacoma, Pioneer Industries.
I worked next door building assembly lines for a few years. On occasion I would have to go there to gather some parts or supplies for projects. Several bikes used to crowd his office, including a restored mint green 1938 Harley-Davidson FL and a gorgeous blue 1912 Indian. He eagerly shows off another treasure, a screaming red 1947 Harley "knucklehead."
It became obvious early on he needed a place to put those bikes, said Moloney, who has lost count of his acquisitions: "It's a hobby that got out of control."
That's a little like the museum: It started as his idea for some simple display space, but has since grown to a three-story, 51,000-square-foot building with one floor devoted to display space with rotating exhibits and an on-site restoration and repair shop opening to viewing, one floor devoted to a high-tech conference center and one to a restaurant. Other amenities include a retail store, a small theater, a coffee bar and parking garage.
And, of course, a major pier where tour boats and pleasure craft can dock.
