Skip to main content Skip to main navigation
heart-solid My Visit Donate
Home Smithsonian Institution IK development site for ODI
Press Enter to activate a submenu, down arrow to access the items and Escape to close the submenu.
    • Overview
    • Museums and Zoo
    • Entry and Guidelines
    • Museum Maps
    • Dine and Shop
    • Accessibility
    • Visiting with Kids
    • Group Visits
    • Overview
    • Exhibitions
    • Online Events
    • All Events
    • IMAX & Planetarium
    • Overview
    • Topics
    • Collections
    • Research Resources
    • Stories
    • Podcasts
    • Overview
    • For Caregivers
    • For Educators
    • For Students
    • For Academics
    • For Lifelong Learners
    • Overview
    • Become a Member
    • Renew Membership
    • Make a Gift
    • Volunteer
    • Overview
    • Our Organization
    • Our Leadership
    • Reports and Plans
    • Newsdesk
heart-solid My Visit Donate

Bicycles: Icons of Innovation and Mobility

From the 1880s to the 1910s, Americans took to the wheel, sparking a nationwide bicycle craze. In the era before automobiles, bicycles were a means of affordable personal mobility. This nationwide cycling craze allowed Americans to explore new places and experience newfound independence. Learn more about bicycles and their impact on American culture at the National Museum of American History.


  • National Museum of American History 84 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Smithsonian American Art Museum 22 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum 10 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • National Postal Museum 8 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden 3 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • National Air and Space Museum 3 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • NMNH - Anthropology Dept. 1 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Bicycles 22 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • pin, lapel 13 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Graphic arts 10 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Photographs 10 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Bicycle; Road 7 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Postage stamps 7 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Drawings 4 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Bicycle, Ordinary 3 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Bicycle, Ordinary; Road 3 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Decorative arts 3 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • African Americans 4 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Latin Americans 1 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 1860s 4 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 1880s 11 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 1890s 5 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 1930s 10 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 1940s 8 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 1960s 7 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 1970s 12 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 1980s 6 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 2000s 8 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 2010s 13 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • United States 28 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • United States of America 10 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • England 7 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Massachusetts 7 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • New York 6 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • California 4 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Illinois 4 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • New Jersey 4 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • United Kingdom 4 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Boston 3 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Work and Industry: Transportation, Road 59 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Transportation 56 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • America on the Move 38 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Bicycling 33 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Smithsonian American Art Museum Collection 22 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Graphic Arts 19 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • National Museum of American History 19 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Object Project 15 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Road Transportation 14 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Bicycle Pins 13 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Transportation 56 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Bicycling 48 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Bicycles 19 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Sports 19 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Architecture 14 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Road Transportation 14 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Vehicles 14 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Bicycle Pins 13 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Cycling 13 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Amusements 10 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Usage conditions apply 22 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus

Filter Settings

Included:

  • Remove Rights & Restrictions: Not determined close

Ride On!

1896 Columbia Woman’s Bicycle Embellished by Tiffany

Draisine, ca. 1818

Bicycle Shop Sign

Breezer 1 Mountain Bike

Bicycledelic on the Ellipse Day

Environmental Button

La Virée Superbe, Peugeot (The Superb Trip)

Batman No. 29

Ecology Krater II (Out Biking with Aunt Samantha)

Velocipede used by Buster Keaton in the film Our Hospitality

Roper Steam Velocipede, about 1869

Columbia High-Wheel Bicycle, 1886

Stamp illustrated with person riding a bike with panniers attached, “USA” behind them.

Forever Bicycling: Commuter on Bicycle with Panniers single

Victory Bicycle

Boy with Bicycle

1889 Overman Bicycle

Crescent Bicycles Pin

Whalen and Janssen Laminated Wood-Frame Bicycle

Cleveland Model 69 Bicycle, 1899

Public

1927 Snyder Boy’s Bicycle

Design With Africa: Bicycle Modules

Schwinn Panther Bicycle, 1953

Trek 5500 bicycle used by Lance Armstrong in the 2000 Tour de France

1965 Super Deluxe Sting-Ray Schwinn Bicycle

Ordinary Racing Bicycle, 1887

1881 Columbia Bicycle

National Cycle Bicycle Pin

Iver Johnson Arms & Cycle Works Bicycle, 1925

Fenton Bicycle Pin

Match Case with Bicycle Image

Columbia Tandem Bicycle, 1896

Rex Bicycle, 1898

5.9c Bicycle coil single


  1. Current page 1
  2. Page 2
  3. Page 3
  4. Page 4
  5. Next page Next
  6. Last page Last
arrow-up Back to top
Home
  • Facebook facebook
  • Instagram instagram
  • LinkedIn linkedin
  • YouTube youtube

  • Contact Us
  • Get Involved
  • Shop Online
  • Job Opportunities
  • Equal Opportunity
  • Inspector General
  • Records Requests
  • Accessibility
  • Host Your Event
  • Press Room
  • Privacy
  • Terms of Use