Two Centuries ago the Velocipede changed the world.
© 2018
Welcome
Update
The museum is in transition and is no longer at 1313 Binz.
The
artifacts
are
in
storage
and
awaiting
another
exhibition
apace.
The
last
days
of
leaving
our
first
exhibition
space
was
hectic,
and
sad
to
pack
the
stories,
the
bikes
knowing
they
were
headed
to
storage and not to another space.
The
exhibition
spaces
in
the
area
and
even
those
further
afield,
are beyond the budget.
Currently
a
space
walking
distance
to
the
museums
is
being
considered
for
January
occupancy,
with
80%
less
space!
With
a
larger budget this space could be half the size of the previous.
Anyone know of space available?
The
fall
months
have
major
changes
to
the
existence
of
the
Houston Bicycle Museum.
October
1,
the
museum
must
vacate
our
home
of
the
last
4
years
as
it
is
being
demolished
for
the
Holocaust
Museum
expansion
as
of
now,
the
vacate day has been extended to October 31.
Our
current
traffic
has
allowed
us
to
make
the
previous
rent
($1250/month),
but
our
budget
never
anticipated
the
rents
we
are
now
finding.
To
remain
viable,
we
must
be
interesting
enough
to
draw
visitors,
and
therefore
must
maintain
a
minimum
amount
of
floor
space
to
cover
enough
historical
variety
of
bicycles,
their
styles,
and
technology.
Two
spaces
look
promising,
one
a
mile
away
and
the
other
downtown.
(The
downtown
space
is
no
longer
in
consideration
and
the
smaller
space
has
given
a
rental
of
$3450
with
$700
more
in
6
months
which is totally beyond budget)
Any suggestions? Any donated space, exhibit and/or storage?
A
smaller
venue
means
we
must
put
some
of
our
exhibits
in
storage
-
yet
another
cost.
The
needed
funds
for
the
additional
storage
and
move
don't
exist.
These
additional
costs
-
increased,
extra,
or
unseen
-
will
be
worsened
by
the
fact
that
after
our
move,
we
will
be
absent
from
the
normal
visitor
to
the
Museum
District
that
brought
many
of
our
patrons.
Both
spaces
under
consideration
will
be
destination
locations.
We
will
need
to
explore
new
methods
to
remain
connected
to
you,
our
current
patrons,
and
continue
to
bring
the
Bicycle
Museum
experience
to
new
patrons.
But
for
the
time
being,
income
will
be
down and expenses increased.
We
are
pursuing
some
innovative
strategies
like
possibly
a
second,
smaller
'teaser'
venue
in
the
Museum
District
to
maintain
a
presence
there
and
to
entice
visitors
to
our
new
location
–
wherever
that
may
be.
Funding issues we are confronted with:
•
increased rent for museum space
•
additional rent for possible 'teaser' venue
•
reduced museum attendance for an indeterminate length of time
•
moving costs
•
creation of new brochures, signage, etc. to support a
destination/location(s)
•
build-out of racks and suspension systems for bikes in storage
•
new/additional security systems
•
new/additional display systems
A go fund me page is posted, (the museum website has always had a
funding button - www.houstonbicyclemuseum.org). But as much as we
need your financial support, we need your body and time.
Houston Bicycle Museum is a 501(c)(3) non-profit recognized by the
U.S. IRS.
Houston Bicyce Museum