Evel Knievel Museum in Topeka, Kansas

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Evel Knievel Museum sign
Evel Knievel Museum sign

As we’re driving along I-70 in Kansas, we see a billboard advertising the Evel Knievel museum in Topeka, Kansas. Wow! Who knew there was such a museum?

For children of the 70s (and 60s and early 80s), Evel Knievel was the ultimate daredevil hero. He represented fearlessness, doing the impossible, and reaching for the stars to a whole generation of young people.

We most certainly needed to stop at the Evel Knievel museum!

Who Was Evel Knievel?

For those who may not know, Evel Knievel was an American motorcycle stunt rider throughout the 1960s, 1970s, and even 1980s.

He was the ultimate showman and entertainer, wearing flashy white sequin outfits (not be confused with Elvis Presley!), complete with a white cape.

He attempted over 75 ramp-to-ramp motorcycle jumps throughout his career, including jumping over police cars, buses, semi-trucks, and and even rivers throughout his motorcycle jumping career.

Evel Knievel Museum sign
Evel Knievel Museum sign

He made most of the jumps, but not all, having wrecked in many horrible crashes seen live on television throughout his career.

This all added to the allure of the daredevil motorcycle rider, who may or may not land each jump. But everyone was mesmerized and had to see what his next act would be.

Evel Knievel Museum sign
Evel Knievel Museum

Opening of the Evel Knievel Museum

The Evel Knievel museum is fairly new, having opened in 2017. It is founded by three big Evel Knievel fans who had collected much Knievel memorabilia over the years.

Knievel himself is actually from Butte, Montana, but these three Knievel fans have developed a beautiful museum for all people to enjoy the legacy that Knievel offers.

Apparently there was once an Evel Knievel museum planned for Las Vegas, but it never came to fruition. The Evel Knievel museum in Topeka has the originally planned layout of the Las Vegas museum on display.

Planned layout of the Las Vegas Evel Knievel Museum that was never developed
Planned layout of the Las Vegas Evel Knievel Museum that was never developed

According to the staff with whom we spoke, several of Evel’s family members have enjoyed visiting the museum. It’s great to see homage being paid to an American icon and I’m sure his family members appreciate the level of detail and high quality displays at the museum.

The museum is very well designed, with two floors of displays, details of Knievel’s many jumps, and interactive displays, including a virtual reality stunt jump. It is located adjacent to the Historic Harley-Davidson building in Topeka.

There is a large parking lot behind the building in which we were able to park our 27 foot Airstream without any problems, so if you’re traveling in an RV, park in the back of the building and you shouldn’t have any difficulties.

Historic Harley Davidson building
Historic Harley-Davidson building in Topeka

A sign advertises the Harley-Davidson building and the Evel Knievel museum.

Evel Knievel and Harley Davidson sign
Evel Knievel and Harley-Davidson sign

Evel Knievel Museum Entrance

As you enter the museum, you will see a statue of Evel Knievel that was formerly housed in a liquor store in Butte, Montana.

The statue was made for Evel as a tribute to his 14 bus jump at Kings Island in 1975.

Evel Knievel museum entrance
Evel Knievel museum entrance

The museum tells the history of Knievel’s life, starting with his early life in Butte, Montana.

One of the earliest images is of him riding a tricycle at age 3. Little did his family know then what life had in store for this little daredevil!

Bobby Knievel at 3 years old on a tricycle
Bobby Knievel at 3 years old on a tricycle

There’s also a cute drawing Knievel did of the Man “O” War horse for his mother with a note attached about his injured arm.

Drawing by Evel Knievel as a child
Drawing by Evel Knievel as a child

How Evel Knievel Got His Name

The museum displays detail how he got his moniker of “Evel Knievel.”

It turns out that little Bob Knievel dropped out of high school in Butte, Montana after his sophomore year in 1954 to work in the copper mines.

He was later fired and got in trouble after a police chase on his motorcycle in 1956. He was jailed under his given name, Robert Knievel.

But when the jailer came around to check on inmates one evening, he noted that a man named William Knofel who was known around town as the rhyming name “Awful Knofel” was jailed along with Bob who he nicknamed “Evil Knievel.”

The name stuck, but Bob changed the spelling to “Evel” to appear less sinister than “Evil.”

As a young man, Evel Knievel participated in local professional rodeos and ski jumping events.

The museum has the original ribbon he received for winning the Northern Rocky Mountain Ski Association Class A Men’s Ski Jumping Championship in 1959.

Ski jumping ribbon
Ski jumping ribbon

Later in his life, but before his motorcycle stunt career really took off, Evel Knievel sold insurance for the Combined Insurance Company of America. His boss, W. Clement Stone wrote a book about the power of a positive attitude that Stone suggested Knievel read.

Knievel has been cited as saying that he credited much of his success in life to Stone and his book.

Success Through a Positive Mental Attitude Book
Success Through a Positive Mental Attitude Book

Evel Knievel Motorcycle Jumps

The museum does an excellent job of chronicling Knievel’s motorcycle jumps, including videos, photos, programs, newspaper clippings, and other media about each event.

Ascot Park Speedway motorcycle jump in 1967
Ascot Park Speedway motorcycle jump in 1967
Knievel's successful 1971 Ontario Motor Speedway motorcycle jump
Knievel’s successful 1971 Ontario Motor Speedway motorcycle jump
Program from the 1971 Kansas State Fair
Program from the 1971 Kansas State Fair

The Evel Knievel museum displays do an excellent job of profiling each jump and classifying them as either a “success” or a “crash” with details about each event.

Ceasar's Palace jump
Ceasar’s Palace jump
Successful Kings Island jump
Successful Kings Island jump in 1975

The museum also has a display and details about all of Knievel’s motorcycle jump attempts, starting with his first jump in the summer of 1965 in which he jumped a tethered mountain lion and a crate of snakes.

The result of this first jump — Knievel struck the snake crate.

The final jump on the display is from March 1, 1980 at the Miami-Hollywood Speedway. This jump was a success, as was most of the jumps listed on this inventory of his motorcycle jump attempts.

Evel Knievel's motorcycle jump attempts
Evel Knievel’s motorcycle jump attempts

Motorcycle Displays

The Evel Knievel museum also has on display many of the motorcycles used for Knievel’s jumps.

For example, these include a replica of the 1967 Triumph T120 TT Special 650cc used for wheelies as Evel’s Caesar Palace event.

1967 Triumph T120 TT Special 650cc
1967 Triumph T120 TT Special 650cc

The museum also has on display Evel’s original 1969 Laverda American Eagle S Model 750cc motorcycle which he jumped 13 times during a two-year span.

He landed this motorcycle successfully seven times while crashing six times.

According to the museum, this is the most dangerous motorcycle Knievel jumped throughout his career. It was discovered in an unrecognizable condition and restored by the Historic Harley-Davidson team in Topeka.

1969 Laverda American Eagle S Model 750cc
1969 Laverda American Eagle S Model 750cc

Knievel’s 1972 Harley-Davidson XR 750 Alloy Head “Wembley XR” motorcycle is also on display at the museum.

Evel debuted this new paint scheme in 1974 at the Wide World of Sports at Green Valley Raceway in Texas.

The paint scheme was done by George Sedlak and it is the actual Sedlak painted tank used by Evel on his motorcycle during his attempted jump of 13 buses at Wembley Stadium in London in which he crashed.

1972 Harley-Davidson XR 750 Alloy Head "Wembley XR" motorcycle
1972 Harley-Davidson XR 750 Alloy Head “Wembley XR” motorcycle

The museum also does a good job of explaining how Evel’s motorcycle equipment worked.

For a solid science, technology, engineering and math lesson, be sure to read all the details about how a 4-stroke motorcycle engine works.

STEM display on Evel's motorcycle equipment
STEM display on Evel’s motorcycle equipment

Evel’s “Big Red” Mack Truck

One of the museum highlights is Evel’s original Mack truck named “Big Red.”

He used this truck to haul around his motorcycles, ramps, and other equipment.

It even had living quarters for Evel.

The truck is a large part of why the museum is located in Topeka, as its restoration led to the owner of the Historic Harley-Davidson in Topeka. Big Red was found in extreme disrepair in Florida and has been lovingly restored to its original condition by a large team of restoration experts.

Evel's Big Red truck
Evel’s Big Red truck
Interior of the Big Red driver's cab
Interior of the Big Red driver’s cab
Evel's living quarters in Big Red
Evel’s living quarters in Big Red
Evel's motorcycle ramps stored in Big Red
Evel’s motorcycle ramps stored in Big Red
Rear of Big Red
Rear of Big Red

Given that so much work went into restoring Big Red, the museum has detailed the restoration in a Big Red restoration documentary film.

This 18 minute video details the intense two year effort to rebuild Evel’s 1974 Big Red truck, coach, and trailer.

While watching the film, museum attendees are surrounded by the actual sheet metal that was removed from the coach and trailer for restoration.

Big Red restoration documentary viewing area
Big Red restoration documentary viewing area

The museum also has original photos of the before and after restoration of Big Red.

Before and after photos of Big Red
Before and after photos of Big Red

Evel Knievel’s Snake River Jump

In 1974, Evel attempted to jump the mile-wide canyon over the Snake River in Twin Falls, Idaho in a specially designed steam-powered rocket motorcycle. (This is the same Snake River in Idaho where we camped at a rest area overlooking the Snake River.)

Despite large attendance and a huge promotion event, the skycycle failed to make it to the other side of the Snake River successfully.

Evel landed in the water and survived with only minor injuries.

The museum has the wrecked rocket motorcycle on display for museum visitors to see.

Evel Knievel Skycycle
Evel Knievel Skycycle
Tourguide Map of Evel Knievel's Snake River Canyon Jump in 1974
Tourguide Map of Evel Knievel’s Snake River Canyon Jump in 1974

Evel Knievel Museum Interactive Displays

One of most interesting and unique aspects of the Evel Knievel museum is the level of effort they have put into creating interactive displays for museum guests.

For example, the Bad to the Bones interactive display lets visitors learn more about all of the bones that Knievel has broken throughout his life.

Bad to the Bones Evel Knievel interactive display
Bad to the Bones Evel Knievel interactive display

Visitors can select parts of Knievel’s body to learn about which bones he has broken, along with details about each of the jumps that caused the broken bones.

Videos of the jumps are included, along with the wrecks that broke Evel’s bones.

Interactive Bad to the Bones display
Interactive Bad to the Bones display

This area also has a humorous letter from one of Knievel’s doctors that says that his medical problem is “extremely complex because of the fact that this daredevil cannot afford the time (estimated at twelve to eighteen months) to have the bone graft for his right radius and be followed up in a conventional manner with a long-term cast and so forth.”

Letter from Evel Knievel's doctor
Letter from Evel Knievel’s doctor

The museum’s interactive Jump Planner display lets visitors choose the type of motorcycle that Evel will jump with, the ramp height, the speed of Evel’s motorcycle, and the type of vehicles that he’ll jump.

The display then models what would happen if you attempted a motorcycle jump with that criteria. Spoiler alert: Most of mine crashed.

Evel Knievel Jump Planner interactive display
Evel Knievel Jump Planner interactive display

The museum also has a virtual reality experience for museum visitors for a $5 cost in addition to the price of museum admission.

Wearing a virtual reality mask and headphones, visitors sit on a vintage 1972 XR 750 Harley-Davidson motorcycle and attempt to jump 16 police cars in downtown Topeka.

This jump was completed by Doug Danger in 2016 wearing multiple cameras on his helmet to capture his vantage point from atop the motorcycle. Riders get to feel as he did when he performed the jump.

Interactive jump at the Evel Knievel Museum
Interactive jump at the Evel Knievel Museum
Evel Knievel Museum virtual reality motorcycle jump
Evel Knievel Museum virtual reality motorcycle jump

Evel Knievel’s Fashion Statements

Many of Evel Knievel’s iconic outfits worn during his jumps are on display at the museum.

Evel Knievel iconic outfits
Evel Knievel iconic outfits

Other fashionable choices by Evel are on display, including several very interesting choices. It was the 1970s, after all!

This display includes a video of Evel’s appearance on the Donny and Marie show in 1976.

Fashions worn by Evel Knievel
Fashions worn by Evel Knievel
Evil Knievel's 1976 TV appearance on the Donny and Marie show
Evel Knievel’s 1976 TV appearance on the Donny and Marie show

The museum also has outfits worn by the Evel Knievel team who helped put on the motorcycle events.

This one seems to be sponsored by Olympia beer.

Evel Knievel team gear
Evel Knievel team gear

Evel Knievel Images

Throughout the timeline of Evel Knievel’s life, the museum has large blown up images of the daredevil himself.

Evel Knievel photo
Evel Knievel photo
Photo of Evel Knievel
Photo of Evel Knievel

Evel Knievel Fan Mail

Evel Knievel received large amounts of fan mail during his career.

After a 1977 crash, Evel broke both arms and was hospitalized.

The museum acquired over 300 letters that were sent to the hospital to Evel, but were never opened by him.

Evel Knievel fan mail
Evel Knievel fan mail

The letters were sent by children and adults from all over. Several of these are on display at the Evel Knievel museum.

Letter to Evel Knievel
Letter to Evel Knievel from a child fan
Fan mail sent to Evel Knievel by an adult
Fan mail sent to Evel Knievel by an adult

Evel Knievel Newspaper Articles

Evel was a huge celebrity during his heyday. He was profiled in countless newspaper and magazine articles.

The museum has taken a sample of these and covered several walls in a hallway with articles about Evel’s escapades.

Evel Knievel wall of articles
Evel Knievel wall of articles
Newspaper and magazine articles about Evel Knievel
Newspaper and magazine articles about Evel Knievel
Evel Knievel article
Evel Knievel article

Evel Knievel Movies and Television Show

Two movies and a TV show have been made about Evel Knievel. The Evel Knievel museum has a viewing theater in which these are shown.

Evel Knievel movie viewing theater
Evel Knievel movie viewing theater

In 1971, the movie “Evel Knievel” was released with George Hamilton playing the role of Evel. The movie provides a flashback viewing of Evel’s life.

In 1974, Sam Elliott played the role of Evel Knievel in a pilot TV episode that never made it to the air.

In this pilot episode, Evel faced off in a battle of the sexes contest with a female motorcycle jumper. Too bad it never made it to a full series!

In 1977, the movie “Viva Knievel” was released with Evel Knievel playing himself.

This star-studded movie included wild plot lines such as drug lords’ attempts to kill Knievel, along with the requisite motorcycle jumps and crashes.

Evel’s Indy 500 Connection

A racecar sponsored by Evel was driven in the 1977 Indianapolis 500.

The museum details the connection between Evel and the racecar owner — J.C. Agajanian — and how the racecar came to be painted in Evel’s familiar red white, and blue star-spangled paint scheme.

Evel's Indy 500 racecar
Evel’s Indy 500 racecar

Evel’s Vehicle Collection

Evel himself was quite the collector of vehicles in addition to motorcycles.

He owned yachts, helicopters, airplanes, motorhomes, and more. The Evel Knievel museum has images of these on display, as well as one of his original cars.

Evel Knievel's vehicle collection
Evel Knievel’s vehicle collection
Yacht owned by Evel Knievel
Yacht owned by Evel Knievel
Motorhome owned by Evel Knievel
Motorhome owned by Evel Knievel
Car owned by Evel Knievel on display at Evel Knievel museum
Car owned by Evel Knievel

Evel Knievel Product Licensing

According to the museum, Evel was the first person to use his fame to license his name and likeness to a large amount of products, ranging from toys, to beer, to hot sauce, to automotive products to all kinds of items.

Evel apparently made far more money from the royalties of the products he licensed and endorsed than from his actual motorcycle jump events.

Evel was the first living person to be featured as a “super hero” action figure, and toys were his largest revenue sources.

The museum has a large number of these products on display.

Most visitors in the 40-60 age group will likely remember some of these from their childhood.

A selection of licensed Evel Knievel products at the Evel Knievel museum
A selection of licensed Evel Knievel products
Evel Knievel products
Evel Knievel products
Evel Knievel pinball machine
Evel Knievel pinball machine
Evel Knievel toys
Evel Knievel toys
Evel Knievel jukebox machine
Evel Knievel jukebox machine
Evel Knievel bottle of wine
Evel Knievel bottle of wine
Evel Knievel books and other products
Evel Knievel books and other products
Evel Knievel beer, cigars, and other products
Evel Knievel beer, cigars, and other products
Evel Knievel Olympia beer, Wheaties cereal, hot sauce, and more
Evel Knievel Olympia beer, Wheaties cereal, hot sauce, and more

Evel Knievel’s Death in 2007

Unfortunately Evel passed away in 2007 due to complications from diabetes and pulmonary fibrosis.

Evel had apparently developed a friendship with the actor Matthew McConaughey, who gave the eulogy at Knievel’s funeral.

Matthew McConaughey gave the eulogy at Evel Knievel's funeral
Matthew McConaughey gave the eulogy at Evel Knievel’s funeral

Send the Museum Your Bicycle Jump Photos from the 1970s

The Evel Knievel museum staff recognize the impact that Evel Knievel made on the lives of children in the 1970s.

The museum invites people to send in photos they may have of themselves in the 1970s performing an Evel Knievel type stunt on their bicycle.

The museum will display these photos on their wall.

1970s boy on bicycle
1970s boy on bicycle
The Evel Knievel museum invites you to send your photos
The museum invites you to send your photos

Evel Knievel Museum Souvenirs

As you leave the Evel Knievel musuem, you’ll enter the adjacent Harley-Davidson store with which it shares a building.

If you proceed straight ahead as you enter the store, you’ll enter the souvenir shop area for the Evel Knievel museum.

Harley Davidson store outside the Evel Knievel museum
Harley-Davidson store

Here you’ll find all kinds of fun Evel Knievel products, including clothing for adults and kids, coffee mugs, coffee, blankets, action figures, and more.

Evel Knievel shirts
Evel Knievel shirts
Evel Knievel Snake River Canyon Jump t-shirt
Evel Knievel Snake River Canyon Jump t-shirt
Evel Knievel souvenir products
Evel Knievel souvenir products
Evel Knievel Museum coffee mug
Evel Knievel Museum coffee mug
Evel Knievel baseball hat
Evel Knievel baseball hat
Evel Knievel socks
Evel Knievel socks
Evel Knievel action figure toy
Evel Knievel action figure toy

Historic Harley-Davidson of Topeka

As you exit the Harley-Davidson store, you’ll notice that they have a cafe by the entrance where they serve breakfast and lunch, in case you’ve worked up an appetite during your perusal of the Evel Knievel museum.

Cafe at the Harley-Davidson store
Cafe at the Harley-Davidson store

There’s also a small Harley-Davidson museum downstairs that is free to see.

It has lots of interesting old motorcycles with tidbits of details about the motorcycle empire’s development.

Yesterdays Motorcycle Museum sign
Yesterdays Motorcycle Museum sign
Motorcycles in the Harley-Davidson museum
Motorcycles in the Harley-Davidson museum
Exhibit at Yesterdays Motorcycle Museum
Exhibit at Yesterdays Motorcycle Museum

As you leave the Yesterdays Motorcycle Museum, you’ll notice a new “Modern Evel” Harley-Davidson motorcycle with a custom paint job.

Modern Evel Harley-Davidson motorcycle
Modern Evel Harley-Davidson motorcycle

Final Thoughts on the Evel Knievel Museum

Any child of the 1960s, 1970s, and even 1980s will love visiting the Evel Knievel Museum in Topeka, Kansas.

We had a fabulous visit and loved reminiscing about Evel Knievel’s daredevil life and the impact it had on us as children.

The museum staff are very friendly and eager to help explain any of the exhibits to visitors.

The museum has done an outstanding job creating a great visitor experience, complete with historical displays, videos. technical geek-out information, and even interactive displays to keep you entertained.

We highly recommend visiting this museum as a destination, and most definitely stop in if you’re passing through Topeka!