Only the opening of a motorcycle museum could include an acetylene torch and a first tattoo. Fortunately one wasn't used for the other.

Harley-Davidson had the grand opening of the museum tracing the companies colorful history that has been 105 years in the making. The museum was opened by cutting a motorcycle chain wrapped around a museum tower with an acetylene torch. During the celebrations the company's president and chief executive, Jim Ziemer, had his first tattoo.

Other festivities included a 2008 Super Glide Custom bike build-off as well as live music.

The $78 million, 130,000-square-foot museum includes exhibits, a 150-seat restaurant called Motor, grab-and-go eatery Café Racer, retail store The Shop and  special events space.

The Museum exhibits tell the stories of the people, products, history and culture of Harley-Davidson by a chronological procession of landmark motorcycles through the company's 105-year history.

Vintage photographs, posters and other artifacts explain major moments in the company's history such as the entrepreneurial start in 1903, survival during the Great Depression, involvement in WWII and the landmark buy-back from AMF in 1981.