“Culture, Family, and Diversity”: Johnson County Museum adds custom bike from the Olathe Leadership Lowrider Bike Club to collection

Overland Park, KS - The Johnson County Museum is thrilled to announce the newest addition to the museum’s collection – a custom lowrider bike. Showcasing the incredible creativity of local high school students from the Olathe Leadership Lowrider Bike Club, this lowrider bike was the culmination of years of work to capture the essence of the club that started in Olathe and now has branches throughout the United States. This bike, which was made specifically for the museum, is not only a testament to the club members’ dedication and craftsmanship, but also a representation of lowrider culture.

“The Olathe Lowrider Leadership Bike Club is such an incredible Johnson County story. It was founded and is thriving because members of our community saw a need and worked together to address it,” said Museum Director Mary McMurray. “Being able to document this important Johnson County history in such a unique way has been incredibly special for us, as has our time working with and learning from (Olathe Public Schools Executive Director of Student and Community Engagement and Olathe Leadership Lowrider Club Founder) Erik (Erazo), the mentors, and the students.”

“This bike will be a centerpiece of our Latino Collecting Initiative that we launched in 2019 to help us tell a fuller and more inclusive history of Johnson County,” said Curator of Collections Anne Jones. “We want everyone who lives in Johnson County to see themselves and their history reflected in the Johnson County Museum.”

The lowrider bike created for the museum is both traditional and unique in its design. The bike features extended handlebars, a twisted gold chrome steering wheel, antennas, and other accents. Intentional details, like the brown and glitter paint with gold accents, evoke the warmth and coming together of all club members, while also representing the club’s success and achievements. Laser cut into the design are the words “Culture, Family, and Diversity,” representing club values.

“What the lowrider bike club means to me is family... we want to show the people that are coming to visit the Johnson County Museum about the culture, and the art, and how much time we have spent together to build this bike,” said Stephanie Garcia Rios, a student in the Olathe Leadership Lowrider Bike Club.

The bike will be unveiled by the Olathe Leadership Lowrider Bike Club students during the Johnson County Arts & Heritage Center’s Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration on Oct. 4 at 7:15 p.m. The bike will be flanked by historical interpretation and proudly displayed in the museum’s signature exhibit, "Becoming Johnson County." The unveiling will include remarks by students and staff from the Olathe Leadership Lowrider Bike Club as well as museum staff. The Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration runs from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. that evening and is free and open to the public. Following the unveiling, the bike will remain on display in the Johnson County Museum.

The Johnson County Museum is an award-winning and nationally accredited history museum with a long tradition of service to our community. Our mission is to showcase Johnson County’s unique stories ranging from its early beginnings to today’s diverse suburban communities. The museum is part of Johnson County Park and Recreation District and is located within the Johnson County Arts & Heritage Center located at 8788 Metcalf Ave., Overland Park, Kan.