Vintage Wings & Wheels Museum

What Vintage Wings & Wheels Museum does

The Poplar Grove Vintage Wings & Wheels Museum (legally the Poplar Grove Aviation Education Association, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit) operates a 12-acre heritage transportation campus on Poplar Grove Airport (C77) in northern Illinois. Founded in 1997 with a seven-person staff, the museum is dedicated to preserving and exhibiting aviation and automotive artifacts, structures, and documents from 1903 to 1957. Its physical collection consists of multiple historically significant buildings relocated and restored on-site — including the 1937 WPA Waukesha Hangar (an Art Deco structure), the Hamilton Hangar (originating from Milwaukee's General Mitchell Airport), the Springfield Hangar (from Commercial Field near Springfield, IL), Slim's Garage (a 1930s steel garage from Green Lake, WI), the 1924 Sunoco Gas Station (from Dayton, OH), and the 1937 Graf Road Bridge — supplemented by an in-house aviation/automotive Literature Library and the museum's flagship restoration project: a fully operational Curtiss JN-4D 'Jenny' replica built in collaboration with EAA Chapter 1414.

The museum generates revenue through a multi-stream nonprofit model: tiered annual memberships ($20 student / $35 senior / $40 individual / $75 family / $1,000 lifetime), corporate sponsorships (Bronze $250 to Platinum Plus $5,000), tax-deductible donations to designated funds, gift shop sales, $150 memorial bricks, event space rentals, and fees from its Air Academy youth STEM program. Customer segments are primarily local/regional — aviation enthusiasts, families, K-12 students on field trips, scout troops, and a handful of corporate sponsors serving northern Illinois (Boone and Winnebago counties). Visitor acquisition is driven by community events (e.g., pet-friendly BBQ lunches at $10 suggested donation), school outreach, and direct-to-consumer self-serve online purchasing via Stripe through the museum's website.

The organization is expanding its commercial footprint with the planned Spring 2026 opening of "The Landing," a new aviation-themed event center intended to drive facility rental revenue. There is no technology platform, mobile application, or AI component to the operation; the museum is a destination-based cultural and educational institution rather than a software business.

Name

Vintage Wings & Wheels Museum

Legal name

Poplar Grove Aviation Education Association

Website

https://wingsandwheelsmuseum.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Poplar Grove Vintage Wings & Wheels Museum is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating a 12-acre aviation and automotive heritage campus on Poplar Grove Airport in northern Illinois, preserving transportation history from 1903 to 1957 through relocated historic buildings, exhibits, and youth education programs for regional visitors, students, and corporate sponsors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Aviation and Transportation Heritage Museum

NAICS

Museums (712110), Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (7121), Historical Sites (71212)

akta.pro primary industry

Specialty Museums (e.g., Maritime, Aviation, Sports, Music, Film) (THAJADAF)

Keywords

• Aviation museum
• Transportation museum
• Historical preservation
• Aviation education
• Heritage exhibits

Headquarters

HQ city

Poplar Grove

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Subscriptions: Annual and lifetime membership fees providing unlimited museum admission, event discounts, merchandise, and library access. Tiered pricing from $20 (student) to $1,000 (lifetime).
2. Donations: Tax-deductible donations to the General Fund, Curtiss JN-4D 'Jenny' Project capital campaign, and other designated funds. All donations go to a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.
3. Sponsorships: Corporate sponsorships at Bronze ($250), Silver ($500), Gold ($1,000), Platinum ($2,000), and Platinum Plus ($5,000) levels with associated benefits including Wall of Fame recognition, signage, and rental discounts.
4. Event Space Rentals: Facility rentals for private events, with Gold and Platinum sponsors receiving 50% off rental fees and Platinum Plus sponsors receiving free use of rental spaces.
5. Gift Shop Sales: Retail sales of merchandise including hats, t-shirts, and other aviation-themed items. Members receive 10% discount.
6. Memorial Brick Program: Sale of personalized memorial bricks at $150 each for the walkway by the flagpole.
7. Air Academy Program Fees: Revenue from youth aviation education programs including Air Academy sessions for middle school students and younger learners.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Vintage Wings & Wheels Museum is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit aviation and automotive heritage museum on a 12-acre campus at Poplar Grove Airport (C77) in northern Illinois, preserving and exhibiting transportation artifacts and relocated 20th-century buildings from 1903 to 1957. Its core offering is a physical museum experience anchored by Wings (aviation) and Wheels (automotive) exhibits, complemented by educational programs (Air Academy, scholarships, literature library), community events, memberships, and event-space rentals.

Product overview

The Poplar Grove Vintage Wings & Wheels Museum is a 501c3 non-profit organization dedicated to preserving and communicating transportation heritage from 1903-1957. Located on 12 acres at Poplar Grove Airport (C77) in northern Illinois, the museum operates through two main exhibit areas: Wings Exhibits featuring historic aviation structures including the Art Deco Waukesha Hangar, Hamilton Hangar, Springfield Hangar, and Beacon Light; and Wheels Exhibits featuring automotive heritage including the Graf Road Bridge, Slim's Garage, Sunoco Gas Station, and vintage vehicles. The museum's education initiatives include Air Academy (STEM programs for youth), a Literature Library with extensive aviation and automotive research materials, and an annual Scholarship Program for students pursuing aviation careers. Revenue generation includes museum memberships (Individual, Family, Senior, Student, and Lifetime tiers), donation programs (General Fund, Memorial Brick Program, and specific project funding), and facility rentals including the new 'The Landing' event space opening in 2026.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Wings Exhibits Aviation-themed exhibits featuring historic aircraft hangars including the Waukesha Hangar (WPA 1937 Art Deco building), Hamilton Hangar (from Milwaukee's General Mitchell Airport), Springfield Hangar (from Commercial Field, Springfield IL), the Beacon Light navigation system, and Jeppesen Park honoring Elrey Borg Jeppesen, father of aerial navigation. Open to general public, students, and educational groups.
• Wheels Exhibits Automotive-themed exhibits featuring the Graf Road Bridge (1937 pony truss bridge), Slim's Garage (1930s steel auto garage from Green Lake, WI), Sunoco Gas Station (1924 station from Dayton, OH), and a 1924 Chevy Truck (first new truck sold in Boone County). Open to general public, students, and educational groups.
• Air Academy Aviation education program offering aircraft exploration, interactive STEM activities, and hands-on experiences with aviation professionals. Sessions available for middle school students and younger learners. Targeted at young aviation enthusiasts and their families.
• Scholarship Program Scholarships awarded annually by PGAEA to high school and college-age youth pursuing careers in aviation. Funded by the Thomas Family and museum donations. Applications due March 31 annually.
• Literature Library Extensive research library on the second level featuring general aviation, military aviation, and automotive related materials. Members can check out materials; non-members welcome for research. Collection preserved with heating and air conditioning. Marketed as one of the most comprehensive aviation and automotive libraries in the region.
• Museum Membership Annual membership tiers including Individual ($40), Family ($75), Senior ($35), Student ($20), and Lifetime ($1,000). Benefits include free admission, one hat or t-shirt, reduced event rates, member preview events, voting rights at the annual PGAEA meeting, and 10% shop discount. Lifetime members receive a special name badge and Wall of Fame feature.
• Donation Programs Tax-deductible donation options including the General Fund, the Curtiss JN-4D 'Jenny' Project, the Scholarship Program, the Memorial Brick Program ($150 per brick), and artifact/book donations. 100% of donations support artifact care, exhibits, education programs, and community events.
• Event Space Rentals Facility rentals for private events, including the new aviation-themed event center 'The Landing' opening Spring 2026 and the Wings and Wheels Pavilion (used for pet-friendly neighborhood BBQ lunches at $10 suggested donation). Gold and Platinum Sponsors receive 50% off rental fees; Platinum Plus Sponsors rent free.
• Artifact Donation Program Accepts pre-1957 artifacts related to aviation (private and military), vehicles (automobiles, bicycles, tractors, wagons, carriages), photographs, print media, and ephemera. Accepts gifts (full property transfer) or loans (temporary housing with owner retaining title). Requires clear title; no monetary appraisals provided.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and major.

• EAA Chapter 1414coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Collaborative partnership between the museum's restoration team and EAA Chapter 1414 members on the Curtiss JN-4D 'Jenny' Project. EAA Chapter 1414 members, led by Don Perry, have been manufacturing aircraft parts including fuselage, wings, emplane, gear, and tail components. The project began in fall 2016 with the goal of building a museum-quality, fully operational Jenny aircraft.
• Rockford BlacktopminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRockford Blacktop provided generous support for the installation of the Graf Road Bridge on museum campus, spanning 'Lake Thomas' on airport property. The bridge was originally constructed in 1937 and rescued from demolition.
• Illinois Railway MuseumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Sunoco Gas Station exhibit was acquired from the Illinois Railway Museum in Union, Illinois, which had it moved from Dayton, Ohio. The museum acquired and restored the 1924 gas station.
• Waukesha County Airport (historical)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Waukesha Hangar was originally built in 1937 to serve the Waukesha County Airport in Wisconsin as a WPA project. The museum later rescued and relocated this historic structure.
• Commercial Field Springfield (historical)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Springfield Hangar was originally from Commercial Field near Springfield, Illinois, which operated from 1928-1960s. The museum rescued this hangar from the defunct airport for use as additional exhibit space.
• General Mitchell Airport / Hamilton Field (historical)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Hamilton Hangar originated from Hamilton Field in Milwaukee, Wisconsin (later renamed General Mitchell Airport). Built in the mid-1920s, the 'T' hangar design was specifically built to accommodate aircraft.
• Ken and Cindy StarzykmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerPlatinum Plus sponsors who support the museum's mission. Listed prominently among Platinum Plus sponsors on the museum's Sponsors page.
• J.S. (Platinum Plus Sponsor)majorGTM or Marketing PartnerPlatinum Plus sponsor featured on the museum's Sponsors page.
• Wallem (Platinum Plus Sponsor)majorGTM or Marketing PartnerPlatinum Plus sponsor featured on the museum's Sponsors page.
• Carroll College (historical)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDuring World War II, Waukesha Airport in conjunction with Carroll College operated an air corps training program using the Waukesha Hangar to train cadet pilots for wartime service.
• Civil Air Patrol (historical)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Civil Air Patrol used the Waukesha Hangar extensively during WWII as their primary base of operations for Milwaukee County. The Springfield Hangar also served as a base for the Civil Air Patrol during World War II.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• Yanks Air Museum: Yanks Air Museum in Chino, California is a specialty aviation museum focused on historic and restored aircraft. Comparable as a smaller-scale, collection-driven aviation museum with a similar operating profile.
• New England Air Museum: New England Air Museum in Windsor Locks, Connecticut is a non-profit specialty aviation museum with historic aircraft collections and educational programming. Comparable in scale and operating model as a regional aviation-focused non-profit museum.
• Frontiers of Flight Museum: Frontiers of Flight Museum in Dallas, Texas is a specialty aviation museum featuring aircraft collections and STEM education programs. Directly comparable in mission and product mix, with similar education-outreach emphasis.
• Illinois Railway Museum: Illinois Railway Museum in Union, Illinois is a transportation-history museum and is explicitly a source/donor partner of Vintage Wings & Wheels (donated the Sunoco Gas Station exhibit). Comparable as a northern Illinois non-profit transportation museum with similar membership, volunteer, and donation-based operating model.
• Pima Air & Space Museum: Pima Air & Space Museum in Tucson, Arizona is one of the largest aviation museums in the U.S., with extensive aircraft collections and historic buildings. A direct peer in the specialty aviation museum category, though larger in scale.
• Air Zoo Aerospace & Science Museum: Air Zoo in Kalamazoo, Michigan is a Smithsonian-affiliated aerospace and science museum featuring historic aircraft, interactive exhibits, and STEM-focused youth education programs. Directly comparable as a regional specialty aviation museum with education programs and a similar visitor demographic.
• EAA AirVenture Museum: The EAA Aviation Museum in Oshkosh, Wisconsin is a specialty aviation museum operated by EAA with a comparable mix of historic aircraft, educational programs, and aviation-themed events. Highly relevant as a direct peer given its overlapping mission and EAA Chapter 1414 ties to the Vintage Wings & Wheels Jenny Project.

Broad incumbents

• Museum of Flight: Museum of Flight in Seattle, Washington is a large, established aerospace museum with extensive aircraft collections, education programs, and event facilities. Comparable as a broader incumbent in the same specialty aviation museum category.
• National Air and Space Museum (Smithsonian): The Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C. is the largest aerospace museum in the world. Relevant as a broad incumbent defining the specialty aviation museum category, though its scale and government backing make it a category-defining reference rather than a direct competitor.
• Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation: Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Michigan is a large transportation and American history museum with strong automotive and aviation collections. Comparable as a broader incumbent spanning the aviation and automotive heritage themes that anchor Vintage Wings & Wheels.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/vintage-wings-wheels-museum

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Vintage Wings & Wheels Museum