Harley-Davidson celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2003.
The anniversary followed the company’s 1903 founding in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Harley-Davidson marked the centennial with company events, motorcycle gatherings, special-edition branding, and a major ride and celebration in Milwaukee. The year was important not because the company began production of a new engine family, but because it represented a full century of continuous corporate history.
Harley-Davidson’s early history began with small motorcycles developed by William S. Harley and the Davidson brothers. The company expanded from its first Milwaukee workshop into one of the world’s best-known motorcycle manufacturers.
Anniversary dates can be confused with other milestones, including the company’s 95th anniversary in 1998 and the opening of the Harley-Davidson Museum in 2008. The centennial itself belongs to 2003.