About Us:-

The Deke Slayton Memorial Space & Bicycle Museum, Inc is a 501(3)(c) nonprofit corporation. The Museum was founded in March 1999 by a core group of Monroe County residents. They wanted to honor Deke Slayton’s memory in his hometown of Sparta, Wisconsin AND commemorate the rich bicycling heritage of the area.

The Museum is presented as a progression of transportation from the first bicycles, to the Wright Brothers Bicycle Shop & the Wright Flyer, then on to aviation in Monroe County, and into outer space with Monroe County’s Mercury 7 astronaut – Donald Kent “Deke” Slayton.

Our Mission Statement makes it clear that the Museum is dedicated to enhancing an understanding and encouraging an interest in and an appreciation of the career of Donald Kent “Deke” Slayton, the History of Bicycling, Wisconsin Astronauts, and Aviation in Monroe County.

On display at the Museum:

More than 80 antique, vintage & collectible bicycles

3.9 billion year old lunar sample from the Apollo 17 Mission

Deke Slayton’s Mercury 7 astronaut space suit

Actual Pietenpol AirCamper airplane

Quarter scale Wright Flyer

Artifcat collection is over 4,000 relating to Monroe County Aviation, Wisconsin Astronauts, including our own Deke Slayton and Bicycles.