Growing up in the ’70s, watching Evel Knievel was a big part of my childhood. Getting the chance to relive those memories at the Evel Knievel Museum brought it all rushing back. I can still remember the excitement every time he was set to make a jump, especially when it aired on ABC’s Wide World of Sports. Back then, we all dreamed of becoming daredevils ourselves. Inspired by Evel, we built homemade ramps and jumps in the yard, each one bigger and bolder than the last.
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A Legend on Two Wheels
Location (Now Closed, Moving to Las Vegas, NV)
The Evel Knievel Museum first opened in Topeka in 2017 and has since drawn visitors from around the world. But that stay looks to be coming to an end. A Las Vegas newspaper reported that a developer in that city is teaming up with a landlord who owns property there to bring the Evel Knievel Museum to the Las Vegas Arts District.
The museum deserves to be a tourism destination. Las Vegas makes the most sense for the Evel Knievel Museum to be there, with Evel’s history in that city.
What You’ll See Inside
This isn’t just a room full of bikes and posters. The museum is beautifully curated and surprisingly immersive. Here are a few highlights:
- The Original “Big Red” Mack Truck & Trailer
- Evel’s custom rig that transported his gear and motorcycles—restored to pristine condition. It’s a showstopper.
- His Bikes, Leathers & Helmets
- See the actual Harley-Davidson XR-750s he rode, plus his stunt suits and the infamous “bone-breaking” helmet collection.
- Crash Footage & Interactive Exhibits
- You’ll find rare film clips of his most daring jumps, including Caesars Palace, Snake River Canyon, and Wembley Stadium. Some exhibits let you feel what it’s like to plan and launch a stunt.
- Virtual Jump Experience
- This was a blast—you can hop on a simulator and “attempt” a jump yourself. Spoiler: I didn’t make it.
- Personal Memorabilia
- Letters, newspaper clippings, X-rays of Evel’s many broken bones, and even a collection of toys and merchandise that made him a household name.
This fully curated museum experience puts you in the moment of each of Evel Knievel’s death-defying feats. The Evel Knievel Museum showcases an incredible collection of authentic artifacts that belonged to the most legendary, death-defying daredevil of all time!
The 2-story 13,000 sq. ft. Evel Knievel Museum features Evel’s motorcycles – the bikes that launched a legend. Knievel’s genuine leathers and helmets. “Big Red,” Evel’s fully-restored Mack Truck. And Evel’s personal and never-before-seen memorabilia.
How Long Will It Take?
Being a fan of Evel Knievel, I could have spent the whole day looking at the memorabilia and reading the stories. But for a normal fan, give yourself at least 2 hours. There’s more to see than you think, and the storytelling is fantastic.
Don’t Miss
The first floor of the museum is actually built around (my favorite) “Big Red” Evel’s fully restored Mack touring truck. There are several displays and a video devoted to its history and restoration.
The second floor of the museum has interactive exhibits and a huge display of the Evel Knievel licensed items, which were the largest portion of his income: toys, games, bicycles, lunch boxes, and even several slot machines.
“I’d do it all the same… except I’d go faster on a few jumps.”
Evel Knievel
Also, don’t miss the chronological list of his jumps, from 1965 to 1980. It lists 168 jumps (19 crashes)
There is an entire room dedicated to the daredevil’s Snake River Canyon jump and includes Evel’s specially engineered SkyCycle X2.
Idaho’s Snake River Canyon was the site of Knievel’s best-known stunt. Because he couldn’t get governmental approval to ride a motorcycle over the Grand Canyon, he settled for his second choice: Snake River Canyon. While Evel’s jump of the Snake River Canyon failed, in September 2016, stuntman Eddie Braun successfully completed the jump in a steam-powered rocket identical to Evel’s SkyCycle X2.
Other Places to See In Topeka
Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site
Brown v. Board Historic Site is located at the former Monroe Elementary School. Several exhibits located inside allow visitors to learn about the 1954 U.S. Supreme Court decision along with what it was like to attend a school that year.
Kansas State Capitol
Visitors have the opportunity for a self-guided or guided tour. Either way, you’ll get to take in all of the architecture, historical artifacts, and paintings.
Kansas Museum of History
This museum is the best place to get your fix on Kansas history. Visitors can spend hours looking at the exhibits that detail the early days of Kansas up to the present time. Guests can walk through the 1880 Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe locomotive and see a 1914 Longren biplane.
Combat Air Museum
If you are interested in planes, this is the museum for you. The Combat Air Museum is a sight to behold as the facility houses 45 aircraft from the early to present days of aviation, historic aircraft engines, and a collection of World War I artifacts.
Final Thoughts
The Evel Knievel Museum was one of the most unexpectedly cool stops we’ve made in a while. I could have spent all day exploring the museum. If you are an Evel Knievel fan, you MUST visit this place. Visiting this museum took me back to my childhood and was a great place to pay homage to one of my childhood heroes.
Whether you grew up watching Evel or just love stories about pushing the limits, this place hits the mark. It’s a nostalgic ride back in time, but also a tribute to a man who quite literally risked it all—again and again. I just wish the gift shop had more souvenirs!
If you’re road-tripping through the Midwest, don’t miss it. Trust me, it’s a jump worth taking.
What interesting places can you recommend?
We’re always on the lookout for unique, out-of-the-way experiences to add to our list.
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