History of the Bicycle through Period Caricatures with David Herlihy

Apr

Saturday, April 08, 2023 at 02:00 PM

Shortly after the Civil War, through the Gilded Age, the upstart bicycle evoked an exciting new world in which even a poor person could travel afar and at will, without the aid of horses. But was the fanciful “mechanical horse” truly destined to usher in a new era of road travel or would it remain merely a plaything for dandies and schoolboys? Through period caricatures, David Herlihy, historian, and author of Bicycle: The History, recounts the saga of this far-reaching invention and the hopes and passions it aroused.

Join us on Saturday, April 8th at the Major Taylor Museum in Worcester to learn about the history of the bicycle with David Herlihy. The presentation will start at 2pm, where David will utilize period caricatures to bring the audience on a historical bicycling journey. Space is limited to 50 attendees, please RSVP below. If you have any questions, reach out to us at [email protected].

About the Speaker

David V. Herlihy is a historian and freelance writer. He has been interested in bicycle technology since his days as a member of the Harvard Cycling Club. He is the author of several award-winning books including, Bicycle: The History, published by Yale University Press, and Lost Cyclist: The Epic Tale of an American Adventurer and His Mysterious Disappearance. His work has been featured on National Public Radio and Voice of America and in the New York Times, the Boston Globe, Boston Magazine, and Historic Preservation. In 1999 Herlihy received the McNair History Award from the Wheelmen, the preeminent American association of antique bicycle collectors.