The Snowmobile Hall of Fame and Museum is nestled in the heart of Wisconsin snowmobile country. It collects and preserves the history of the sport from both the competitive and recreational sides.
What’s in the Collection at the Snowmobile Hall of Fame and Museum?
Visitors get a 360 degree overview of the sport and its many facets. Exhibits range from the traditional forms of competition of oval and drag racing, to later additions like watercross and snocross.
Many of the sleds were, or are still, owned by championship racers.
The museum was established in 1983 by a group of dedicated snowmobile enthusiasts. Due to support from the snowmobile racing community, it’s continuously growing and expanding.
Fast Fact: The Snowmobile Hall of Fame inducts a new group each year. See the list at: Inductees.
The museum collection is around 100+ snowmobiles. Many of them were the winning race sleds of some of the sport’s top drivers. You’ll also see their vintage snowmobile gear, from suits to helmets to safety equipment. When you add that to snowmobile memorabilia from brands that have long since stopped manufacturing sleds, you’ll find lots of unique artifacts in the collection.
Snowmobile Historic Moments
While I’d written about Ralph Plaisted in Snowmobile Adventures, I hadn’t had the opportunity to see the sleds, so that was neat.
Plaisted made the first confirmed surface conquest of the North Pole in 1968, snowmobiling 474 miles as the crow flies from the starting point at Ward Hunt Island, Canada. The trip took a little over 43 days.
I’ve always considered Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, snocross racer, Blair Morgan, one of the best snowmobile racers who ever lived. I loved seeing his #7c Ski-Doo on display.
Morgan is credited with singlehandedly popularizing the stand-up style of racing. He revolutionized both snocross and the entire sport before being injured in a motorcycle accident in 2008.
Youtube Video: Snowmobile Hall of Fame and Museum
Take this great video tour of the Snowmobile Hall of Fame and Museum, with Josie Christian and some of snowmobile racing history’s greatest. We raced with some of these guys “back in the day” and really enjoyed the interviews.
Interviewees include, Tim Bender, (Snowmobile Hall of Fame 1999), Steve Houle (Snowmobile Hall of Fame, 2016), and Tom Rager (Snowmobile Hall of Fame, 2014).
Linda’s Pick of the Displays
So what was my favorite display here? Hands down, it was the 1978 Ski-Doo Cross-Country RV ridden by Gerard Karpik. I must admit part of the reason is because I owned and rode that model for half a dozen years. Of all the snowmobiles I’ve ridden, my RV was my favorite. In fact, I can’t say I’ve ever really forgiven David for selling it on me to some cross-country racers in Saskatchewan.
I also had to take stop and a moment at the Polaris Midnight Blue Express racing team to remember Jerry Bunke. He’d taken 15 feature victories in 1977, before dying in a crash in Beausejour, Manitoba, February 26, 1978, the next season.
It was the first ice oval we’d ever attended, and we’d enjoyed every minute of Friday and Saturday. Then, the Sunday morning fog was further complicated by snowdust that hung in the air making it impossible to see. Even though it was early in the day we decided to head home, missing the crash by just a few minutes.
His death was a great loss for the snowmobile racing community.
Linda’s Road Trip Tips
David and I have been through the little town of St. Germain many times over the years between our snowmobile racing and other travels.
This trip was a month long, so we just stayed in a Super 8 (nothing fancy) in Ashland, which was 100 miles north, as we’d come through Duluth-Superior on the north shore of Lake Superior.
It’s always a scenic drive there into the Wisconsin Northwoods!
Leaving St. Germain we grabbed lunch at Perkins in Woodruff, and pulled into the Towne Edge Motel in Edgerton, WI. It was budget priced, clean, and comfy, with equally budget-priced pitchers of beer and Wisconsin’s famous cheese curds across the street at The Decoy Bar & Grill.
Who Should Visit the Snowmobile Hall of Fame Museum?
If you’re a snowmobile or transportation museum enthusiast, the Snowmobile Hall of Fame and Museum is a must see!
The museum has excellent signage and information, so going through everything fully is a half day visit.
How to Visit the Snowmobile Hall of Fame and Museum
The Snowmobile Hall of Fame and Museum is located in St. Germain, Wisconsin, at 1246 Sled World Boulevard (8481 HWY 70 West).
Take a virtual tour of the Snowmobile Hall of Fame and Museum on YouTube.
Check museum hours at the website.
Find the Snowmobile Hall of Fame and Museum on Facebook.
Plan your itinerary with Google Maps.
Find More Museum Reviews for Wisconsin
Check out more reviews for museum attractions in Wisconsin on guide2museums.com.
Discover More Snowmobile Museums
- Miracle of America Museum: 40+ Buildings in Polson, Montana
- Vilas Historical Museum: Snowmobiles to Paul Bunyan in a Wisconsin Museum
- World Snowmobile Headquarters Museum: Eagle River, Wisconsin
- Polaris Experience Center: Polaris Snowmobile Museum in Roseau, Minnesota
- Museum of Ingenuity: Ski-Doo Snowmobile Museum in Valcourt, Quebec
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