The Deke Slayton Memorial Space and Bike Museum, Sparta, Wisconsin
Date Visited: August 13, 2006
Contact Information:
(2nd floor)
200 West Main Street
Sparta, Wisconsin 54656
Phone: 608-269-0033
888-300-5302
Fax: 608-269-4423
Email: info@dekeslaton.com
Hours:
Summer: Mon-Sat 10a.m.-4:30p.m.
Sunday 1p.m.-4p.m.
Winter: Mon-Fri 10a.m.-4p.m.
Saturday by appointment only
Admission:
Adults-$3
Kids (6-15)-$1
Kids (5 and under)-Free
Mission: “The Deke Slayton Memorial Space & Bike Museum, Inc. is dedicated to enhancing an understanding and encouraging an interest and appreciation in the career of Donald Kent "Deke" Slayton, History of Bicycling, Wisconsin Astronauts, and aviation in Monroe County.”
Who is Deke Slayton?:
Deke was born Donald Kent Slayton in Monroe county, which is also where I was born and raised. He served as a pilot in World War II and was chosen in 1959 to be “one of the elite seven,” America’s first group of astronauts called the Mercury 7. He is called “Monroe County’s most famous son.” 
My Experience:
I first went to the bicycle exhibit called The New Freedom: The Bicycle Revolution in America. It is was really interesting to see how the bicycle evolved over the years. The exhibit included bikes that were first designed in Europe as well as those the Wright brothers invented. If you find yourself wondering why exactly this museum would be found in this small town in Wisconsin, it is because bicycling is really popular in the are and tourists often come to the area in order to take advantage of the Sparta-Elroy Bike trail that used to be railroad tracks. The trail is very scenic and well maintained by the DNR. My favorite part about it is that it has really neat old railroad tunnels to bike through. People will often bike the trails with their families and sometimes camp out along the way. One disappointment I found with this exhibit is that it does not give much information
about the area’s interest in bicycling and the history of the trail. That could even stand alone as the theme of an entire exhibit. What I really enjoyed was the Draisine, a bike invented in Germany in 1816. It is also called the “walking machine” because it did not have any pedals and required someone to walk beside it, pushing whoever was sitting on it.
The museum had a small exhibit on the history of aviation in the county, and I can’t recall the exact title of the exhibit. I like that they included a special section on Pearl Harbor. What makes it unique from other Pearl Harbor exhibits is that it is done through the perspective of a Pearl Harbor survivor from Monroe County, Verdeen W. Richgruber.
The Deke Slayton exhibit did not disappoint. It was a great biographical exhibit, offering many details of his life and his accomplishments. I think the exhibit is especially interesting to me and others from the area because he w
as one of our own, and it reminds us that all of us are capable of doing great things with our own lives.
When reflecting on the museum, which is relatively new, developed in 1999, I think it is a great thing for the community to have. I think it is a little odd to pair together bicycling and an astronaut, but it all makes since when considering the museum is trying to provide a history of the area and its greats.
My Experience:
I first went to the bicycle exhibit called The New Freedom: The Bicycle Revolution in America. It is was really interesting to see how the bicycle evolved over the years. The exhibit included bikes that were first designed in Europe as well as those the Wright brothers invented. If you find yourself wondering why exactly this museum would be found in this small town in Wisconsin, it is because bicycling is really popular in the are and tourists often come to the area in order to take advantage of the Sparta-Elroy Bike trail that used to be railroad tracks. The trail is very scenic and well maintained by the DNR. My favorite part about it is that it has really neat old railroad tunnels to bike through. People will often bike the trails with their families and sometimes camp out along the way. One disappointment I found with this exhibit is that it does not give much information
about the area’s interest in bicycling and the history of the trail. That could even stand alone as the theme of an entire exhibit. What I really enjoyed was the Draisine, a bike invented in Germany in 1816. It is also called the “walking machine” because it did not have any pedals and required someone to walk beside it, pushing whoever was sitting on it.
The museum had a small exhibit on the history of aviation in the county, and I can’t recall the exact title of the exhibit. I like that they included a special section on Pearl Harbor. What makes it unique from other Pearl Harbor exhibits is that it is done through the perspective of a Pearl Harbor survivor from Monroe County, Verdeen W. Richgruber.
The Deke Slayton exhibit did not disappoint. It was a great biographical exhibit, offering many details of his life and his accomplishments. I think the exhibit is especially interesting to me and others from the area because he w
as one of our own, and it reminds us that all of us are capable of doing great things with our own lives.
When reflecting on the museum, which is relatively new, developed in 1999, I think it is a great thing for the community to have. I think it is a little odd to pair together bicycling and an astronaut, but it all makes since when considering the museum is trying to provide a history of the area and its greats.
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