Scenes From Indian Day Springfield MA July 17 2005

A DVD slideshow of 1136 photographs with a runtime of 95 minutes
To be viewed on your TV or computer

In 1903 The Hendee Manufacturing Company (Indian) of Springfield MA produced 143 motorcycles. In 1911 the had a 1-2-3 win of the first Isle of Man Tourist Trophy. In 1913 they had their best year of 32,000 motorcycles. After that it was a long slow decline until 1953. There were still enough exceptional motorcycles made - 101 Scout, the Four, the Chief - to keep Harley Davidson on its toes.

There is not much left of the huge manufacturing complex that once made the beloved Indians. But right there on Hendee Street in Springfield, MA in the last of the original buidlings the Indian Motorcycle Museum can be found. It is a private museum open 7 days a week and run by Esta Manthos who with her late husband, Charlie, have preserved the last foothold in Springfield of the once mighty Indian.

On the third Sunday in July each year there is an Indian Day gathering in the grounds around the museum. There is a $5 entrance fee which also gets you into the museum. Cars and non Indian motorcycles each have their own parking areas and Indian motorcycles and vendors selling real Indian parts are allowed to set up on the main grounds. The recently made Indians must park in the non Indian motorcycle parkings as they are not consider genuine Indians.

We arrived at Hendee Street around 9am and were directed to park in the automobile parking area. It was short walk to the entrance table and then the non Indian cycle parking. A little further was the Indian Museum entrance. Photographs were not allowed in the museum so we just photographed the entrance and entrance way. There was a large open area in front of the museum were Indians and Indian parts vendors were beginning to collect. We stayed until noon by which time a good crowd of riders and vendors and visitors has gathered.

Sample Photos

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