Written By: Adina Vega
Edited By: Michelle Sosa and Genevieve Hammang
Bicycle Heaven Museum was established in 2011 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Are you a bicycle fanatic? Do you enjoy bicycle memorabilia? Are you curious about the history and future of bicycles? If so, hop on and pedal to Bicycle Heaven, the world’s largest transportation museum and shop in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. This one-of-a-kind museum is home to collector’s bikes, limited-edition futuristic bikes, and an online store where you can purchase bikes and accessories you can’t find anywhere else. Whether you’re learning to ride a bicycle or are a seasoned bike enthusiast, this museum will surely become a favorite destination for all things bikes.
Craig and Mindy Marrow, founders of Bicycle Heaven.
The museum was started and branded in 1996 in Bellevue, Pennsylvania. It all started with one cast-aside bike that founder Craig and Mindy Morrow found in a junkyard. One turned into over 3,000 scattered across garages in the Bellevue area. Craig transformed into a collector of vintage and antique bikes, many of which could only be found in their collection. After realizing the collection had become overwhelming, Craig and Mindy established Bicycle Heaven Museum, which is now the world’s largest bicycle museum and shop, as featured in the New York Times and Associated Press. The museum also serves as a haven for bicyclists to get their bikes fixed, tuned up, or traded in for newer (or older) bicycles. The museum also rents out bikes.
Prop bicycle used in the movie Pee-wee’s Big Adventure is on display at Bicycle Heaven.
One of the museum’s major draws is its collection of bicycles featured in movies and shows. These bikes have been featured in movies such as A Beautiful Mind, Super 8, Fathers & Daughters, Fences, and many others. A crowd favorite at the museum is one of the prop bikes used as Pee-wee Herman’s bicycle, the MacGuffin of the film Pee-wee’s Big Adventure.
The Bowden Spacelander bicycle was created in 1946 by Benjamin Bowden.
It also houses the Bowden Spacelander, the first fiberglass bike made and one of the most sought-after bicycles. It was created by Benjamin Bowden in 1946, manufactured in 1960, and sold for $89.50. Only 522 Spacelander bicycles were made in the original run. There are only 30 or so to be found today, and Bicycle Heaven has 17. The Bowden Spacelanders are some of the rarest bicycles in the museum. Given their scarcity and good condition, they are valued at over $50,000 each. Bicycle Heaven Museum now has nearly 6,000 vintage bicycles and an extensive collection of memorabilia and theme bikes, including The Beatles, Elvis Presley, Sports and Bobbleheads, and local artwork. The Museum is open seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and is free to the public. It is a non-profit museum that relies on donations from visitors worldwide. For more information on this cool museum, please click here.
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