Our
Exhibits
THE MAIN
MUSEUM
The main museum features interactive exhibits and 30 static displays which tell the story about Joseph and Victor Stanzel's contributions to model aircraft designing and manufacturing, which began in the 1920s and ended in 1997.
The displays consist of solid scale models of WWI designs, amusement rides of the 1930s, gas-powered Control Line and free-flying model aircraft, and ready-to-fly toys for children. A total of 28 U.S. patents and 5 from other countries were awarded to Victor Stanzel during his model aviation career.
THE FACTORY
MUSEUM
The third museum developed on site of the Stanzel Family Foundation grounds was the Stanzel Brothers Factory Museum, established in 2005. The original Victor Stanzel Company manufacturing building was constructed in 1935; ten years after Victor began the airplane hobby business in the family residence. This wood-framed 60 x 30 foot sized structure was built to manufacture full-scale amusement rides, consisting
of the Fly-A-Plane,
20th Century Stratos
Ship, “G” Ride, and
Amusement Game
displayed in front
of the Stanzel
Brothers Factory
Museum.
​​
The Stanzel brothers began design and development of a gas-powered Control Line Model Tour of airplane kits in this building in the late 1930s. A mannequin display of Victor and Joe in the factory show the two working together on a new design. The original ten-by-ten-foot size office depicts designs of the 1930s. It is furnished with the original drafting table used to design all of their products. Life-sized mannequins of Victor and Joe show them seated at the table. The office is furnished with the original wood desk, chairs, and display cabinets of simple home construction, designed, and built by Joe and Victor.
THE HOMESTEAD MUSEUM
Adjacent to the Museum is the historic home of Victor and Joe Stanzel’s grandparents, restored and furnished as it appeared in the late 1800s.
Franz and Rosina (Guenther Blaschke) Stanzel built this residence as their first home in American in 1870, soon after immigrating from the Austro-Hungarian Empire. They purchased 100 acres of farmland in 1870, deeding a small portion to a railroad company that was advancing westward. They also gift deeded land for construction of the Saint Rose of Lima Catholic Church and Parochial School. In addition to farming the land, Franz earned income cutting cedar posts for landowners to build fences. The grandparents of Victor and Joe built this 19th century family residence that consisted of a bedroom, living room, dining room area, and kitchen with an attached room. This so-called pantry was used to store preserved foods such as cured ham and bacon, canned vegetables, and fruits. They called this room their “speck schrank,” or bacon closet.
Take a Closer Look
 MAIN MUSEUM |  TIGER SHARK AMA |  STANZEL TOY DISPLAY |  STANZEL FACTORY MUSEUM |
|---|---|---|---|
 FACTORY MUSEUM |  STANZEL FACTORY OFFICE |  STANZEL HOMESTEAD |  STANZEL HOMESTEAD KITCHEN |
 STANZEL HOMESTEAD BEDROOM |  MODEL PLANE TESTING |  STANZEL BROTHERS |  MODEL PLANE TESTING |