Deke Slayton Museum in Sparta celebrates 50th anniversary

SPARTA, Wis (WRCO / WRCE) – The Deke Slayton Memorial Space & Bicycle Museum in Sparta is celebrating its 50th anniversary.

A number of programs will be held to celebrate.

Rocket Day will be held Tuesday, July 15, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Create and launch air rockets, straw rockets, and Alka Seltzer rockets.

Hands Around the Museum will be held Thursday, July 17, at 2 p.m. You are invited to gather for a group picture with the Deke Slayton statue.

A panel discussion will be held Saturday, July 19, at 1 p.m. at Sparta High School featuring Deke’s son, Kent Slayton; Bill Moon, retired NASA flight controller for ASTP; and Jeff Williams, retired astronaut from Winter, Wisconsin.

On Sunday, July 20, at 3 p.m., Sharing Space with Deke featuring ASTP kids will be held at the museum and via Zoom. It will feature Kent Slayton in person, and Dionne & Karin Stafford, and Stephanie Brand via Zoom. The cost to attend is $10.

Donald Kent “Deke” Slayton was born in Sparts, WI in 1924 and was an American Air Force pilot, aeronautical engineer, test pilot, and one of the original NASA Mercury Seven astronauts. He went on to become NASA’s first Chief of the Astronaut Office and Director of Flight Crew Operations, responsible for NASA crew assignments.

The Deke Slayton Memorial Space and Bicycle Museum commemorates Sparta astronaut Deke Slayton and a “Progression of Transportation” through bicycles, aviation, and space exploration to connect people to knowledge, creativity, and inspiration.

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