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 80 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Smithsonian American Art Museum 26 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • National Postal Museum 9 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum 8 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Archives Center, National Museum of American History 4 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Archives of American Art 4 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden 4 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • National Air and Space Museum 3 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • National Museum of African American History and Culture 3 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • National Portrait Gallery 3 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Photographs 30 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
  • Archival materials 11 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Graphic arts 11 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Bicycle; Road 7 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Postage stamps 6 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Drawings 5 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Prints 4 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Bicycle, Ordinary 3 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • African Americans 8 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Iranians 1 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Latin Americans 1 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Muslims 1 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 1860s 5 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 1880s 17 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 1890s 12 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 1900s 9 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 1930s 14 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 1940s 11 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 1960s 7 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 1970s 17 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 1980s 8 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • 2000s 9 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • United States 33 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • United States of America 12 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Massachusetts 7 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • New York 7 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • California 5 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • England 5 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • District of Columbia 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
  • Boston 3 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Work and Industry: Transportation, Road 60 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Transportation 57 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • America on the Move 39 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Bicycling 29 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Smithsonian American Art Museum Collection 26 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Graphic Arts 23 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 60 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Bicycling 44 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Bicycles 37 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Vehicles 20 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Architecture 17 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
  • Sports 12 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Amusements 11 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Cycling 11 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Not determined 118 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • Usage conditions apply 48 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
  • CC0 12 Filter by term plus Exclude term minus

Filter Settings

Excluded:

  • Remove Date: 2010s close

Richmond Bicycle Pin

Columbia Bicycle Pin

Gendron Bicycle Pin

Pierce-Arrow bicycle, ca. 1900

Beeston-Humber Racing Bicycle, 1886

Bicycles and Carriage

Boys riding bicycles

Conservation of Energy with Bicycle Use Promotion

Man with Bicycle

Bicycle Handlebar Grip

Elihu Vedder with a bicycle

Stationary exercise bicycle with metal frame, seat, pedals, handlebar, and attached devices

Bicycle Ergometer, Skylab

Bicycle saddle used by Concor Racing

Smith Star bicycle, ca. 1884

Big Boda Load-Carrying Bicycle

Earl Kiser’s Bicycle Racing Medal, 1897

Henry W. Higham’s Bicycle Racing Medal, 1883

10c Messenger on Bicycle Special Delivery single

Photograph of letter carrier delivering mail by bicycle

National Off-Road Bicycle Association license

Presorted Std (10c) Modern Bicycle single

The old, old story from The Wheel and cycling trade review.

Bicycling Schedule from the 2004 Athens Summer Olympic Games

Velocipede, ca 1869

Shire Velocipede, 1879

Velocipede, 1867

Velocipede Patent Model

Child's Velocipede, 1876

Brompton

Tricycle, ca. 1875

Cycling skinsuit worn by Bobby Lea during the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympic Games

Bicycles

Bell Biker Helmet

1935 Simplex Servi-Cycle Motorbike

Robert Cornell 1910-1965


  1. First page First
  2. Previous page Previous
  3. Page 1
  4. Page 2
  5. Page 3
  6. Current page 4
  7. Page 5
  8. Next page Next
  9. 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