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1903: William S. Harley, 21, and Arthur Davidson, 20, offer the first Harley-Davidson motorcycle. The pair's "factory" was a 10-by-15-foot wooden shed with the words "Harley-Davidson Motor Company" scrawled on the door.
1906: The first factory is built on the Chestnut St. site.
1909: Harley-Davidson introduces its first V-twin engine motorcycle. The image of two cylinders in a 45-degree configuration becomes a Harley icon.
1914: The company offers sidecars; enters motorcycle racing.
1915: Harleys are available with three-speed transmissions.
1916: The Enthusiast is launched. Will become the longest continuously published motorcycle magazine.
1918: Harley goes to war. The Army uses 20,000 motorcycles, mostly Harleys, in World War I. One day after Armistice is signed, the first American to enter Germany, Cpl. Roy Holtz of Chippewa Falls, rides across the border on a Harley.
1925: Gas tanks on all models now have a distinct teardrop shape. This basic appearance for Harley-Davidson motorcycles will never vary.
1930: Bill Davidson Jr. wins the Jack Pine endurance contest with 997 points of 1,000. All individual class winners are riding Harley-Davidsons.
1932: The three-wheeled Servi-car begins its 44-year run as a popular police vehicle.
1936: Harley introduces the EL. The motorcycle earns the nickname "Knucklehead," due to the shape of its rocker boxes.
1937: Joe Petrali sets a new land speed record on a modified, 61-cubic-inch overhead valve-driven Harley. Petrali is clocked at 136 mph. The same day, he breaks the record for 45-cubic-inch-engine motorcycles.
1942-'45: Harley produces 89,000 motorcycles for military use during World War II.
1947: New plant at Capitol Drive purchased.
1948: New features added to engines, including aluminum heads and hydraulic valve lifters. Also new: one-piece, chrome-plated rocker covers shaped like cake pans. The nickname "Panhead" seemed logical.
1949: Hydraulic front forks first appear on the new Hydra-Glide models.
1952: The K model is introduced; eventually evolves into the "Sportster."
1953: Harley celebrates 50th anniversary, creates logo depicting a "V" in honor of the engine that had brought the company so far, with a bar overlaid reading "Harley-Davidson" and the words "50 years -- American made."
1957: The Sportster debuts, the first of the "Superbikes."
1959: The Topper motor scooter debuts, the only scooter platform the company produced.
1962: The Tomahawk Division is established.
1964: The three-wheeled Servi-car becomes the first Harley-Davidson motorcycle with an electric starter.
1965: The Duo-Glide is updated and re-named Electra Glide.
1966: Harley introduces the first "Shovelhead" engine.
1969: Harley merges with the American Machine and Foundry Co.
1971: In response to the customizing craze, Harley introduces the FX 1200 Super Glide and a new class of motorcycle, the cruiser, is born.
1972: The aluminum alloy XR-750 debuts, becomes a dominant dirt track racer.
1973: Harley moves its motorcycle assembly operation to York, Pa.
1977: FXS Low Rider debuts in Daytona Beach. Also, Willie G. Davidson's version of the Sportster, the Cafe Racer, is released.
1981: Harley executives buy back the company from AMF.
1983: Harley Owners Group, fondly called H.O.G., is founded. It becomes the largest factory-sponsored motorcycle club; within six years, it claims 90,000 members.
1984: Harley unveils the 1340cc V2 Evolution engine and debuts the "Softail" design -- the method of "hiding" the motorcycle's rear shock absorbers.
1986: Harley-Davidson releases the Heritage Softail. Company returns to public ownership.
1988: The company's first of six consecutive sold-out model years. Harley celebrates 85th anniversary with a homecoming in Milwaukee attended by over 35,000.
1990: Introduces the FLSTF Fat Boy.
1993: Harley celebrates 90th Anniversary in Milwaukee. Motorcycle parade features 15,000 riders, 100,000 onlookers.
1995: The 30th Anniversary Ultra Classic Electra Glide becomes the first production Harley-Davidson motorcycle with fuel injection.
1996: New distribution center opens in Franklin.
1997: A new Product Development Center opens next door to the Capitol Drive plant; new plant opens in Menomonee Falls; new plant built in Kansas City to produce Sportsters.
1998: Harley-Davidson celebrates 95th Anniversary.
2003: Harley-Davidson celebrates 100th Anniversary.
1903: William S. Harley, 21, and Arthur Davidson, 20, offer the first Harley-Davidson motorcycle. The pair's "factory" was a 10-by-15-foot wooden shed with the words "Harley-Davidson Motor Company" scrawled on the door.
1906: The first factory is built on the Chestnut St. site.
1909: Harley-Davidson introduces its first V-twin engine motorcycle. The image of two cylinders in a 45-degree configuration becomes a Harley icon.
1914: The company offers sidecars; enters motorcycle racing.
1915: Harleys are available with three-speed transmissions.
1916: The Enthusiast is launched. Will become the longest continuously published motorcycle magazine.
1918: Harley goes to war. The Army uses 20,000 motorcycles, mostly Harleys, in World War I. One day after Armistice is signed, the first American to enter Germany, Cpl. Roy Holtz of Chippewa Falls, rides across the border on a Harley.
1925: Gas tanks on all models now have a distinct teardrop shape. This basic appearance for Harley-Davidson motorcycles will never vary.
1930: Bill Davidson Jr. wins the Jack Pine endurance contest with 997 points of 1,000. All individual class winners are riding Harley-Davidsons.
1932: The three-wheeled Servi-car begins its 44-year run as a popular police vehicle.
1936: Harley introduces the EL. The motorcycle earns the nickname "Knucklehead," due to the shape of its rocker boxes.
1937: Joe Petrali sets a new land speed record on a modified, 61-cubic-inch overhead valve-driven Harley. Petrali is clocked at 136 mph. The same day, he breaks the record for 45-cubic-inch-engine motorcycles.
1942-'45: Harley produces 89,000 motorcycles for military use during World War II.
1947: New plant at Capitol Drive purchased.
1948: New features added to engines, including aluminum heads and hydraulic valve lifters. Also new: one-piece, chrome-plated rocker covers shaped like cake pans. The nickname "Panhead" seemed logical.
1949: Hydraulic front forks first appear on the new Hydra-Glide models.
1952: The K model is introduced; eventually evolves into the "Sportster."
1953: Harley celebrates 50th anniversary, creates logo depicting a "V" in honor of the engine that had brought the company so far, with a bar overlaid reading "Harley-Davidson" and the words "50 years -- American made."
1957: The Sportster debuts, the first of the "Superbikes."
1959: The Topper motor scooter debuts, the only scooter platform the company produced.
1962: The Tomahawk Division is established.
1964: The three-wheeled Servi-car becomes the first Harley-Davidson motorcycle with an electric starter.
1965: The Duo-Glide is updated and re-named Electra Glide.
1966: Harley introduces the first "Shovelhead" engine.
1969: Harley merges with the American Machine and Foundry Co.
1971: In response to the customizing craze, Harley introduces the FX 1200 Super Glide and a new class of motorcycle, the cruiser, is born.
1972: The aluminum alloy XR-750 debuts, becomes a dominant dirt track racer.
1973: Harley moves its motorcycle assembly operation to York, Pa.
1977: FXS Low Rider debuts in Daytona Beach. Also, Willie G. Davidson's version of the Sportster, the Cafe Racer, is released.
1981: Harley executives buy back the company from AMF.
1983: Harley Owners Group, fondly called H.O.G., is founded. It becomes the largest factory-sponsored motorcycle club; within six years, it claims 90,000 members.
1984: Harley unveils the 1340cc V2 Evolution engine and debuts the "Softail" design -- the method of "hiding" the motorcycle's rear shock absorbers.
1986: Harley-Davidson releases the Heritage Softail. Company returns to public ownership.
1988: The company's first of six consecutive sold-out model years. Harley celebrates 85th anniversary with a homecoming in Milwaukee attended by over 35,000.
1990: Introduces the FLSTF Fat Boy.
1993: Harley celebrates 90th Anniversary in Milwaukee. Motorcycle parade features 15,000 riders, 100,000 onlookers.
1995: The 30th Anniversary Ultra Classic Electra Glide becomes the first production Harley-Davidson motorcycle with fuel injection.
1996: New distribution center opens in Franklin.
1997: A new Product Development Center opens next door to the Capitol Drive plant; new plant opens in Menomonee Falls; new plant built in Kansas City to produce Sportsters.
1998: Harley-Davidson celebrates 95th Anniversary.
2003: Harley-Davidson celebrates 100th Anniversary.