Michigan native Bob Milan said he drove hundreds of miles to the Wisconsin city just to enjoy the numerous Harley-Davidson creations displayed at the Harley-Davidson Museum that opened Saturday, the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reported.

"Even though I have a brand-new Harley, I like the old 'rat bikes' from years ago," Milan said.

Thousands of H-D fans were on hand for Saturday's opening ceremony of the $75 million tourist site, allowing a glimpse into the counterculture associated with the company.

"The social history of Harley-Davidson riders is just as interesting as the bikes," Clemson University Professor Jan Holmevik said.

The Journal-Sentinel said Harley-Davidson created the museum hoping it soon would become a major tourist destination like the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland.