58 Classic Bikes Shared with Community After 12 Years of Collecting

A new motorcycle museum has opened its doors in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada. The Kisselgoff Motorcycle Museum is based on a collection of vintage motorcycles accumulated over 12 years by David Kisselgoff, a physician at the local general hospital.

The museum is housed in an 8,000-square-foot (approximately 740 square meters) building on Victoria Avenue, formerly the Odeon Theatre. "I wanted to share the motorcycles I had been enjoying alone in my garage with the entire city," Kisselgoff explained regarding the museum's opening.

The 58 motorcycles on display are mostly classic models manufactured from the late 1930s to the early 2000s, offering glimpses into the ingenuity and craftsmanship of engineers from that era. In addition to motorcycles, the museum features metal art by Michel Tremblay and vintage racing bikes. Tremblay is a legendary rider who won national and provincial championships in motocross and short track racing during the 1960s and 70s.

$25 Million Annual Motorcycle Tourism Market

The museum's opening is expected to have a positive impact on the regional tourism industry. Paul Pepe, manager of Tourism Thunder Bay, explained that "motorcycle tourists visiting Northern Ontario spend over $25 million annually (approximately $350 million CAD), with $16 million of that spent in the Lake Ontario shoreline region."

Thunder Bay established itself as one of North America's premier motorcycle touring routes about a decade ago with the launch of the "Ride Lake Superior" program. "The Kisselgoff Museum will provide a new attraction for thousands of motorcycle tourists," Pepe said, expressing his welcome.

Expected to Serve as Catalyst for Downtown Revitalization

Manager Pepe anticipates that the museum will serve as more than just a tourist attraction—it will act as a catalyst for revitalizing the Fort William business district. "Large-scale streetscaping work and the reopening of Victoria Avenue thoroughfares will support the growth of businesses and tourist attractions in this area for years to come," he projected.

Kisselgoff, who moved to Thunder Bay with his family 17 years ago, has developed a deep affection for the city. "Thunder Bay has been so good to our family that there was no reason not to do something good for this city," he said, explaining his motivation for establishing the museum.

The museum opened based on operational know-how collected from visiting various museums across Canada and received $60,000 (approximately $84 million CAD) in funding from local government.