Historical Society: Harley Davidson Motor Company Factory No. 7 listed on the State Register of Historic Places

Milwaukee, WI. – The Wisconsin Historical Society placed the Harley Davidson Motor Company Factory No. 7 (Milwaukee, Milwaukee County) on the State Register of Historic Places on August 14, 2020.

The Harley-Davidson Factory No. 7 played a crucial role as an automated production facility for the Harley-Davidson Motor Company during the early twentieth century, a pivotal period in the young company’s history when it escalated its operations, created innovative products, and solidified its standing as one of the largest and most important motorcycle manufacturers in the country.

The invention of the automated system for milling and threading cast motorcycle engine parts and wheel hubs employed at Factory No. 7 enabled the Harley-Davidson Motor Company to substantially increase the firm’s production capacity to meet the growing national demand for the company’s motorcycles. The company’s utilization of automatic screw machines during the early twentieth century distinguished it from other motorcycle manufacturers of the era such as the Hendee Manufacturing Company of Springfield, Massachusetts, which manufactured the Indian Motorcycle but did not utilize a large department of automatic screw machines like the Harley-Davidson Motor Company did during the early 1900s.

The Factory No. 7 was integral within the operations of the Harley-Davidson Motor Company during a period of crucial expansion that helped establish the company’s nationwide position as a significant motorcycle producer – a reputation the company maintains today within the industry.

The State Register is Wisconsin’s official list of state properties determined to be significant to Wisconsin’s heritage. The State Historic Preservation Office at the Wisconsin Historical Society administers both the State Register and National Register in Wisconsin.

To learn more about the State and National Register programs in Wisconsin, visit www.wisconsinhistory.org

About the Wisconsin Historical Society
The Wisconsin Historical Society, founded in 1846, ranks as one of the largest, most active and most diversified state historical societies in the nation. As both a state agency and a private membership organization, its mission is to help people connect to the past by collecting, preserving and sharing stories. The Wisconsin Historical Society serves millions of people every year through a wide range of sites, programs and services. For more information, visit wisconsinhistory.org.