Events are all open to the public and all ages

Febuary 2, 2012  Thursday 4 pm

   The annual winter tea at the Museum Gallery, call or stop by the museum to reserve your   seat.     Tickets are $8.00

   The Program: “Patriots in Petticoats, a Quilted Affair” plus tea and  tasty lunch treats.

Bring a friend and enjoy tea time,  treats and an interesting program.

Febuary 16    Thursday   6:30 pm- 7:30 pm

   Back by popular demand - 

 ”Mr. Science” will be at the museum  again challenging the audience to discover the secrets.

 Explore space and aviation through science demonstrations such as balloon helicopters,    flying  coffee cups, egg carton flyer, flying ping pong balls, curve ball thrower and so much more.   The audience can participate and kids will take home a roaring lion!

We post and monitor the Twitter channel @slaytonmuseum. We tweet about specials or museum events. We also listen to what people are saying on Twitter. Every so often someone talks about visiting the museum. Recently a guy tweeted a story about his father meeting Deke Slayton before he joined NASA. The guy providing the story is Charles Dawson and he has given us permission to repeat his story. You can find out more about Charles HERE at his blog. Following is his story reprinted from his Blog:

“I Knew A Guy, Became An Astronaut”

My Father has had some interesting times, has met some interesting people, and I bet he hasn’t told me the best stories yet. But I was surprised when he told me that he had worked with a guy who later became an astronaut. Not just any astronaut, either. Now, to me, ALL astronauts are heroes, rock stars for science nerds. But the Mercury 7 are have Super Hero status, they’re The Beatles of the Space Program. Yes, my Dad knew one of the Mercury 7.

He brought it up rather nonchalantly, as we drove from Portland to an Aviation and Space Museum near McMinnville, Oregon. It was after World War II, when Dad had been a Navy pilot. He was going to school at the University of Minnesota, and like many young men he took some work besides spending time in studies.

It was unloading box cars at “Monkey Wards”, as my Dad called it, in St. Paul. They paid 85 cents an hour. No health insurance, I’m sure. He worked there for about 4 months. His work partner there was someone who was very easy to like. Very level headed and unflappable. His name was Deke Slayton. All Dad knew was he was studying Aeronautical Engineering and had been an Army pilot. As a Navy pilot, my Dad jibed Deke that while he could navigate over water, Deke would navigate by following railroad tracks. At the time Dad did not know how many missions this easygoing freight car unloader had flown, but he did remember how he took the jibe without ire.

My Dad owned a a four cylinder inline Indian motorcycle. Appropriate transport for him, as far as I’m concerned. He said that he would sometimes give Deke a ride home after work. Deke lived in the Seven Corners neighborhood in Minneapolis. One time after dropping Deke off my he remembers going through the namesake intersection and took a turn he probably shouldn’t have. He hit a car on the front fender. The Indian only sustained minor damage, breaking a small marker light on the front fender.

When we arrived at the Museum, there was a large photo of the Mercury 7. My Dad looked and said, “There he is. Looks about the same as I remember him.”

My Father and Mr. Slayton, as far as I am concerned, went on to use their education at U of M very well. My Father became a very well respected teacher, then counselor, then administrator, furthering the education of so many students. Keith Wayne Dawson, PhD.
Deke Slayton, from what I read, was a good judge of character when he made the selections for missions. He chose a good work partner to ask for a ride home, too.

by: Charles Dawson

The Iver Johnson Truss Bridge Bicycle was made by the Iver Johnson’s Arms & Cycle Works of Fitchburg, MA.  They produced bicycles of high quality from 1900 to 1939 which were a high quality, structurally and machanically correct in every detail.  They featured the truss frame for strength and rigidity as exemplified by useing this same construction as used in bridges.  The truss is generally regarded as the most scientific means of supporting weight between piers, having the peculiar property of stiffening under pressure.  The truss in the frame of the Iver Johnson gives added strength and rigidity to a bicycle making it a stronger and easier bicycle to ride.

Other features of this model include a solid forged fork-crown, and the Iver Johnson two-piece crank hanger which is the strongest and simplest ever used on a bicycle according to their advertisement.  Iver Johnson bicycle prices were listed: Truss Bridge Racer -$50; Truss Bridge Roadster, $40; Diamond frame roadster $30.  Coaster brakes, spring frames and spring forks are extra.

Iver Johnson also manufactured revolvers and single barrel shotguns.  The shotgun seen in the display at the Museum is an authentic Iver Johnson. “Trust the Truss” was their motto.  (This submitted by: Marlene Wilhelm)

The progression of transportion includes bicycles-the Museum is home to 100’s of bicycles from the lst ones to present time.   Sparta is connected to the Sparta-Elroy Trail which was the first in the nation to have a “Rails to Trails”.  100,000 cyclists a year come from all over the nation and abroad to ride this well groomed trail and has numerous ammenities along the way.  The trail also connects to the scenic downtown Sparta trails, with several bridge crossings along rivers, parks, flower beds and historic sites.  This trail also connects with other state trails.

  Lon Haldeman and his teammate Pete Penseyres donated one of the bikes to the museum that they used to set the 1987 record of the fastest time ever to race across the United States.   They each had custom built bicycles to fit them when they were the front rider.

They set the record in seven days and 14 hours by riding 400 miles everyday and only sleeping about nine hours the entire time.

Haldeman says they’re happy to donate the tandom trans-continental bike to the museum for visitors to see and to preserve its history.  Haldeman was going to donate his bike but it was destroyed in a fire so Penseyres donated his to the museum. 

“Every year somebody tries to break the record again and very rarely does anybody come below 9 days.  So to do a 7 day, 14 hour record – now that it has stood the test of time since 1987 and we’re not seeing anybody get within a day of that record,  I think it’s probably going to stand awhile,” says Haldeman.

Summer Hours: May 1st – October 31st

                 Monday – Saturday 10 AM -4:30 PM   Closed Sundays or by appointment

Winter Hours: November 1st – April 30th

                Monday – Saturday 10 AM – 4 PM  Closed Sundays or by appointment

   The Newsletter with full stories and more are free for all paid memberships plus another membership bonus is free admission to the museum anytime.  Check out Memberships & Volunteer opportunities in this website.  

Snippets

Credit Card processing is now a payment option-

for membership, donations, gifts, programs etc.

Volunteer of the Quarter

The museum has instituted a new program to recognize outstanding work done at our museum by a dedicated volunteer!  The inaugural Volunteer of the Quarter Award is jointly appointed to Mike Krebsbach from  Eau Claire and the new museum web designer and his mother Donna Krebsbach of Sparta who keeps the web site updated on a regular basis.  The awards were presented by Sandy Steward, President of the Board of Directors.

The Museum’s Traveling Tea Pot Exhibit

In honor of the Tea Time Fundraisers that have been a Museum tradition for well over a decade, Donna Storandt donated a selection of her personal tea pot collection (which is reputed to be in the thousands) to the museum in 2007.  Recently, those tea pots have been photographed and catalogued and are available to the public for traveling displays. If you are interested in hosting a display contact the museum, and Director Alli Karrels will be happy to make arrangements with you.

Deke Slayton’s step-daughter, Stacey Grace, was honored at a reception at the Museum on March 20th, 2011. 

Back row: Beth Slayton, Mary Slayton, Bev Schluenz, Nora Madsen.  Front Row: Rex Slayton, Sara Slayton, Stacey Grace.

  Ms. Grace currently lives in Texas, and following in the family tradison works at NASA.  This was her lst visit to the museum and she was very impressed with the collections and layout.  She also commented on the excellent community support and how grateful she was for unholding the Deke Slayton legacy.  Ms.  Grace gifted the museum with several artifacts from Deke’s NASA experience including personnel passes, commendations from the Wisconsin State Senate, and travel records from his time abroad.  She will be sending more artifacts in the coming months.  The reception included several of the Slayton relatives which are included in the photo.  Come and see all the new historical items.

Brodie Schamens age 4-Donated a Solar System floor puzzle to the museum, ask why, he said “I want kids to learn and think about space, and because I like the Museum”.

The new museum Executive Director Alli, worked for 2 1/2 years as the Curator/Administrator at the Luxembourg American Cultural Society in Port Washington, WI. She helped the organization raise over half a million dollars in 2 years.  Alli has been at the Museum now for 4 months as of May 2011.  She has instigated several new projects and is liking Sparta and the job.

Your donation-big or small-makes an impact-Over 50% of the museum’s budget is dependent upon fundraising for day to day operations.  Friends of the Museum memberships are due now-help us take the museum to new heights in 2011.

Museum visitors come from all over the world.  This last fall Marcus Hays, Pi Mobility CEO, stopped by and shared two of the PiCycles being produced in California.  They are a new approach to integrating electronic technology and bicycle mechanics. Photo’s and full article in newsletter.  A 2011 Museum Goal: Entice Marcus to donate a PiCycle to the Museum!

Tidbits

Birthday Parties at the Museum

Need a great place to hold your next birthday celebration?  Why not try the Deke Slayton Museum?  We are now available evenings and weekends to host your party for only $25.00  The Museum is a place like no other-Adults or Children will definiately have a great time!  Call the museum for details at 608-269-0033.

Discover Wisconsin TV series -Sparta and Hill Country

was recently featured: go to www.bikesparta.com to view the video which also features this museum.

New exhibit in the Monroe County History Room and Museum -Located Main Floor of this building. 

Gary Ascher of Sparta is sharing his souvernir collection of  Sparta Themed Glassware. Also enjoy several other historial exhibits in the History Room.

 The following are a sample of modules available in the Deke Slayton Memorial Space and Bicycle Museum, located on the second floor of the Monroe County Museum Complex.  Most modules can be modified to meet the needs of the individual groups.  Modifications for the modules include time, number of individuals to be accommodated, and learning level. 

 Refer to the section: General Educational Module Group Information for instructions to book a learning session.  Click on button on right side of Home Page -EDUCATION

Title: Legends of Airpower-Deke Slayton

Instructor: Museum Staff & Volunteers

Resource: Three Roads Communication Video

Age: 9 years – Adult        Time: 20 minutes

• Donald Kent “Deke” Slayton was one of the people who made American air power the best in the world. 
• Relive his heroic exploits in this award-winning public television series. 
• Module includes short questions & answer period.

Title: The Solar System – A First Look

Instructor: Museum Staff & Volunteers

Resource: 100% Educational Videos, Inc

Age: 5-8 years                  Time: 15 minutes

Two children are playing outside on a summer evening.  They wish upon a bright star for a visit to all the planets and an imaginary trip on board a space ship results, giving factural information to your class. 

•  Includes catchy poems to remember facts about each planet. 
• Module includes short questions & answer period.

Title: Backyard Rocketry

Instructor: Volunteer

Resource: Various

Age: May be tailored to any age group       Time: 1 hour

• Discusion on Rocketry 
• Video on Rocketry 
•  Weather permitting an outdoor backyard Rocketry demonstration

Title: The Bicycle Bucket

Instructor: Museum Staff & Volunteers

Resource: Wisconsin Department of Transportation

Age: 5 – 9 years         Time: 20 minutes

• Elementary discussion on bicycle safety
• Using a print-out from the Dept. of Transportation, children identity actual bicycle parts which are stored in bicycle bucket. 
•  A hands on learning experience.

Title: Interactive Astronaut Story

Instructor: Museum Staff and Volunteers

Resource: Various

Age: pre-school-6 years      Time: 30 minutes

• Interactive story about Neil Armstrong’s first step on the moon
• View a lunar moon sample

It is recommended; if time is available, to combine a Trip to the Moon and Let’s Make an Astronaut.

Title: Let’s Make an Astronaut

Instructor: Museum Staff & Volunteers

Resource: Various

Age: Pre-school – 6 years             Time: 30 minutes

• Elementary discussion on astronauts
• View a lunar moon sample
• Make & Take: Astronaut is cut out and assembled

It is recommended; if time is available, to combine a Trip to the Moon and Let’s Make an Astronaut

Title: The History of the Pietenpol Air Camper Airplane

Instructor: Staff & Monroe County Aviators

Resource: Various

Age: 8 years – Adult  (sessions are tailored for age appropriateness)

Time: 20 minutes

• Discussion of the Pietenpol
• Highlights of designer, Bernard Pietenpol
• Discussion on how Pietenpol airplane was installed in the museum

Title: The Wright Flyer

Instructor: Museum Staff & Volunteers

Resource: Various

Age: 8-17 years  (sessions are tailored for age appropriateness)

Time: 1 hour

• DVD  The Wright Brothers by Three Road Communication
• Discussion on the 1/4 quarter scale Wright Flyer installed in the Museum
• Introduction to home-built airplanes
• Construction of paper gliders, simple to complex

Title: NASA Spin-offs

Instructor: Museum Staff & Volunteers

Resource: Various

Age: 7 – 12 years             Time: 20 minutes

• Explore Spin-Off exhibit
• Students are provided with pictures of NASA Technology and asked to idenify items in the Museum Gallery that can be associated in some form to the technology
• Discuss NASA technology and the items we use on a daily basis due to this technology

Title: Table Top Airport

Instructor: Monroe County Aviators

Resource: NASA

Age 9 – 17 years  (sessions are tailored for age appropriateness)

Time: 30 minutes

• Interaction with a mock airport
• Learn how to land and take off
• Learn the language of aviation

Information provided to participants so they may sign up for the Tomah EAA Chaper 635 Young Eagles Program and recive a free airplane ride

Title: Bicycle Safety

Instructor: Museum Staff & Volunteers

Rescource: Sparta Bicycle Safety Officer, sparta Police Department

Age 6 – 12 years                Time 45 minutes

• Bicycle Safety Videos
• Discussion on Bicycle Safety
• Practice hand signals
• Bicycle Safety coloring book handout

Title: Accessioning Artifacts

Instructor: Museum Staff

Resource: Past Perfect & American Association of Library & Museums

Age: 8 – 12 years                        Time: 1 hour

• Discussion of accessioning (cataloging) artifacts
• Review the museum’s process of accessioning
• As a group, accession artifacts for the Museum

Title: Astronomy, Let’s Look at the Planets, Moon & Stars!

Instructor: Monroe County Aviators

Resource: Various

Age: 5 – Adult (sessions are tailored for age appropriateness

Time: 1 hour

• Learn about what we can see in outer space from our backyards
• Learn about telescopes
• Weather permitting-an opportunity is provided to view the night sky with high power telescopes.

This session must be scheduled in the evening

Title: Sheet Metal 101

Instructor: Monroe County Aviators

Resource: The Toothpick Airforce and Real Glider Replicas & The First Flyers by Robert Elliot

Age:  12 – 17                   Time: 2 hours

Groups: Minimum of 30 and Maximum of 50 children

Focus:   Home Built Airplanes

Video:  Shooting for the Stars,  The Life & Adventures of Deke Slayton

• Home built airplane video
• Discussion on careers in aviation, Pietenpol airplanes & other home built airplanes
• Discussion on how Pietenpol airplane was installed in the museum
• Construction of complex airplanes using toothpicks & cardstock paper
• Mini-tour of Museum
• Introduction to sheet metal construction
• Information provided to participants who want to sign up for the Tomah EAA Chapter 635 Young Eagles Program and receive a free airplane ride.

This is a very interactive two hours with several activities occuring simultaneously.

Title: Radio Control Airplanes

Instructor: Monroe County Aviators

Resource: Various

Age: 5 – Adult (sessions are tailored for age appropriateness

Time: 1 hour

• Learn about model airplane construction
• Radio control flying
• Indoor demonstration of radio control flyers
• Video of radio control flyers
• weather permitting – an outdoor demonstration of radio control flyers

Title: The Parts of an Airplane

Instructor: Monroe County Aviators

Resource: Various

Age: 8 – 12 years                    Time: 45 minutes

Aviation can be defined as the art or science of operating and navigating aircraft.  The word aviation is derived from the Latin word avis, meaning bird.  Children will be able to use the Museum’s public address system.

• Individuals or groups of 2-3 students are given a flash card with an airplane part picture and definition.
• Students are given 5 minutes to study “their” flash card and are encouraged to find “their” part on the different airplanes in the Museum.
• Individual or group, using the PA system, will read their flash card definition to the class and point out “their ” part on the different airplanes in the Museum.
• Students will have time to complete a crossword puzzle or word search and make gliders to fly from the Museum loft.

Special Projects:

 The Museum is always looking for individuals or groups of individuals interested in special projects.  currently the Museum artifacts include over 200 bicycles to be researched.

The Museum provides a photgraph of the bicycle, instructions on basic research methods, and research forms.  Participants are considered volunteers and there is NO CHARGE for the introductory training or for any subsequent visits to the Museum to work on the project.

Title: Bicycle Research Project

Instructor: Museum Staff

Activity: Do research on specified bicycles, bicycle parts, and bicycle memorabilia

Age: 7 years to Adult

Skills/knowledge to be used: Reading, writing, detail oriented observations, uniformity in writing, following instructions, measuring skills, if possible teamwork, group discussion, and computer skills if accessible.

Materials needed: Access to libraries, letter writing, additional Deke Slayton Museum resources, paper, pencil, and internet access if possible.

Time Required:  Varies with individual ability and depth of research.

Objectives and Outcomes: Students have the opportunity to practice research skills.  Provide accurate information on individual Museum bicycles, bicycle parts, and bicycle memorabilia in the form of a journal and Summary Paragraph.

Resources: List Available at Museum

Touring the Museum

Time: 1 hour recommended

Activity: To provide a glimpse of each of the three major exhibits.  Three student groups are formed.  Each group spends 15 minutes with staff and volunteers viewing each exhibit.  Groups continue to rotate until all students have experienced the entire tour.  Final allocated 15 minutes is used to complete age appropriate scavenger hunt or quiz bowl listed below.  Time is provided for a question and answer period.

A New Freedom:  The Bicycle Revolution in America

Instructor: Museum Staff & Volunteers

Resource: Various

Age: 5 – adult (sessions are tailored for age appropriateness)

Time: 15 minutes

The look and feel of the bicycle has undergone dramatic changes throughout its history.  This exhibit examines the evolution of the bicycle from its early European influences to the modern-day racing models.

Shooting for the Stars: The Life and Adventure of Deke Slayton

Instructor: Museum Staff & Volunteers

Resource: Various

Age: 5 – Adult (sessions are tailored for age appropriateness)

Time: 15 minutes

Born and raised in Monroe County, Donald “Deke” Slayton served in the Army Air Corps during World War II, and he was a test pilot in the U.S. Air Force.  In 1959, Slayton was chosen as one of the Mercury 7, America’s first astronauts.

Where Eagles Soar: Monroe County Aviation History

Instructor: Museum Staff & Volunteers

Resource: Various

Age: 5 – Adult (sessions are tailored for age appropriateness)

Time: 15 minutes

Learn about Monroe County’s rich history of pilots and their exciting stories.  The permanent exhibit includes a quarter scale model of the Wright Flyer and an actual 1932 home built Pietenpol Airplane.

Each of the 15 minute tours may be selected as individual educational modules to be mixed and matched.

Tour Basics:

Scavenger Hunts: consist of a list of questions covering all Museum displays.  Children will be able to find the answers to the questions throughout the Museum. children are encouraged to work in groups of two or three and to ask Museum staff and volunteers for assistance.  Time is provided to discuss answers as a group.

Adult chaperones are provided with the answers to facilitate further discussion after leaving the museum.  Scavenger hunts are modified to fit time available and age of students.

Quiz Bowl: participants are given time to tour the Museum and then are divided into 2-3 groups for a game of Quiz Bowl.  Quiz Bowls are modified to fit time available and age of students.  Quiz Bowls are available for adult group tours.

Deke Slayton & Bicycle Museum is a progression of transportation with exhibits sharing the history of bicycles, aviation and aerospace.  It includes children’s activities, educational programs, gift shop, tours and visitor information.  Members are free.  $3.00 for non members.  Open year around

Phone: 608-269-0033 or dekeslayton@centurytel.net

The Local History Room and Museum offers interactive exhibits and special programs.  Permanent exhibits and regularly changing displays illustrate the past lives and experiences of Monroe County folks, pioneer history, agriculture, military history, industry business, and the home. It has a research library which is an essential resource to the genealogist and local historian.

Rest Rooms: 1st floor

More Information:
Phone: 608.269.8680    Free Admission
www.MCLHR.org

For information on more museums in Monroe County go to Historical Links.

The quarter-scale model of the Wright Flyer hangs from the ceiling.  A larger model of the Wright Brothers plane is on display at the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C.  That one exhibited there is not the real one either-the day they were going to hang it -it fell over and broke to pieces and had to be recreated.  The Monroe County Aviators got the blueprints and used reversed blueprints to recreate the quarter-scale model for this museum.