The Poplar Grove Vintage Wings & Wheels Museum officially came into being during a meeting on December 12, 1996, but the idea for a vintage transportation museum in Poplar Grove had been first discussed back in August of that year. The thought was that a museum focusing on transportation history could be an exciting walk back into a fascinating era. Attending that December meeting was Steve and Tina Thomas, Dick and Bobby Wagner, Pat Packard, and Paul Wallem. From the founders' original idea, a museum was formed! Two people who were also heavily involved in the early years of the museum's history were Walter Kessler and Al Kelch. Walter Kessler's experience founding a vintage aero association  was instrumental in helping Wings & Wheels Museum get off the ground. In 2001, Al Kelch, a Wisconsin inventor/manufacturer, flyer, and vintage airplane enthusiast, made a donation to the Poplar Grove museum of Wisconsin land which was then sold and the proceeds invested to help pay for operating expenses today.

At first, the museum was only an organization; it did not have a space of its own. This changed when the organization discovered that a 1937 hangar at the Waukesha County Airport was going to be destroyed. Volunteers, led by Denny Harms, tussled for many months with Waukesha County officials and others in the community to obtain the structure. Harms presented to the Waukesha County board a proposal outlining how the Wings & Wheels Museum would dismantle, remove, and rebuild the historic structure. The plan won the approval of the Waukesha local government body and the hangar became the property of Wings & Wheels Museum and was moved to Poplar Grove. This hangar now serves as the main museum building.

The campus of the Vintage Wings & Wheels Museum is situated on a beautiful piece of property at the Poplar Grove Airport. The airport, established in 1972, is owned and operated by Steve and Tina Thomas, who were two of the original founders. In 1996, the Thomases graciously donated the twelve acres which is now the museum campus. This husband and wife team continue to remain active in the museum.

Over the years, the museum has had many influential presidents. Paul Wallem was elected the first president of the new museum in 1997. Other early presidents were Denny Harms,  Myron "Butch" Rafferty,  Kendra Helvey, and Peggy Fry. Butch Rafferty returned to his previous post to serve as president again for the 2010-2011 year. We're excited to have Ken Starzyk step in to lead this organization for 2012.

In just over a decade of existence, the Vintage Wings & Wheels Museum has grown and changed considerably. To look back on its history, one can only look forward with excitement to its future and speculate that it will accomplish even more in the decades to come.