Culture Gallery

Photo of a red-headed child playing with a toy bicycle with square wheels

 

Gear Up: The Science of Bikes

Exhibit Dates: June 5, 2026 - September 6, 2026

From Friday, June 5, 2026 through Sunday, September 6, 2026, the Littleton Museum will present Gear Up: The Science of Bikes, developed by Carnegie Science Center (Pittsburgh, PA.). 

From schoolyards and mountain trails to bustling city streets, we encounter bicycles nearly every day. Since its inception in the late 19th century, the bicycle has affected how people live, work, and play. Its popularity has only grown over time, and it is as relevant today as it was 100 years ago. 

The invention of the bicycle made an immediate impact on society and personal mobility and helped to shape our culture. Like any great invention, it has been upgraded and adapted over the years. Because the bicycle is so commonplace, it is easy to take for granted how it works. At “Gear Up,” visitors discover the bicycle as an elegant example of basic science principles.  

You will learn: 

  • How bikes work 
  • The history and evolution of the bike  
  • The science and technology behind the machine 
  • How bikes have impacted our culture 

Like the bicycle itself, the exhibition has been designed to appeal to people of all ages and with diverse interests, from STEM to design to history to art. 

Gear Up is a combination of interactive stations and displays encouraging exploration and discovery centered around the history, design and engineering of the bicycle. Each station presents either an actual bicycle from different eras, or an interactive exhibit exploring material science or engineering. 

Among the many bicycles on display is the Penny Farthing, one of the ancestors of the modern bicycle. Visitors will also get to see classic bikes, like the Big Wheel, a number of sport bikes, and various customized bicycles including a Tall Bike, a unicycle, and a mini clown bike. 

At Gear Up, visitors can engage with many fun hands-on activities such as ‘pedaling’ a crank to generate power or rolling balls down a series of ramps to see Newton’s Laws in effect.  

Gear Up: The Science of Bikes was developed by Carnegie Science Center and produced in partnership with the Sciencenter. 

Exhibit Events

Opening Reception

Thursday, June 4, 2026 at 5:30 p.m. at the Littleton Museum.

No RSVP required. All ages welcome. Light refreshments served. Ample parking available in lot.

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