-
Motorcycles
Photograph by Andrew Owen, American Festivals Project
In August 2009, the American Festivals Project headed north to Sturgis, South Dakota, home of the annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. Motorcycle fans have been returning to Sturgis every August since the “Rally in the Black Hills” began in 1940.
Read more about the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally on the American Festivals Project blog.
-
Royal Ras
Photograph by Ross McDermott, American Festivals Project
The Royal Ras, a Rastafarian motorcycle club from Albuquerque, New Mexico, made its first trip to Sturgis in 2009.
-
Gathering
Photograph by Ross McDermott, American Festivals Project
After a day of riding, bikers meet up to grab a drink, listen to live music, and catch up with friends.
-
Stunt Rider
Photograph by Andrew Owen, American Festivals Project
Kevin Marino of the Starboyz stunt team does a trick for the Sturgis crowd.
-
Motorcyclists
Photograph by Ross McDermott, American Festivals Project
Even on lower Main Street in Deadwood, 30 minutes west of Sturgis, the scene is the same: Motorcycles prowl the streets while onlookers jockey for a good view.
-
Street Vendor
Photograph by Andrew Owen, American Festivals Project
Inedible plastic grapes add a bit of decoration to a street vendor’s display of gyro platters and bratwurst.
-
Motorcyclist
Photograph by Andrew Owen, American Festivals Project
Nearly 400,000 people attended Rally Week in 2009, including this Harley-Davidson rider. That's down from the largest attendance—more than 600,000 in 2003.
-
Lighted Cross
Photograph by Ross McDermott, American Festivals Project
Because of Sturgis’s reputation for licentious behavior, it’s an annual destination for Christian ministries and evangelicals hoping to spread the gospel. This man walked tens of thousands of miles across the U.S. preaching about Christianity.
-
Rally Week Souvenirs
Photograph by Ross McDermott, American Festivals Project
There is no lack of rally souvenirs—t-shirts, bumper stickers, mugs, and more—for riders looking to part with their money.
-
Parked Motorcycles
Photograph by Ross McDermott, American Festivals Project
Though many attendees spend the day riding through the Black Hills to Mount Rushmore and the Crazy Horse Memorial, there is always a crowd on Sturgis's Main Street, where parked motorcycles form a spine down the center of the street.
-
Harley-Davidson Tattoo
Photograph by Andrew Owen, American Festivals Project
For many riders, love of Harley-Davidson is more than skin deep.
American Festivals Project Videos
Shop National Geographic
Top Picks for Travel
Advertisement
Our Trips
National Geographic Missions
-
Young Explorers Grants
National Geographic helps cover field project costs for hard-working, passionate, creative young individuals with great ideas.
