Museum History

The Museum’s history begins early in the archives of aviation in this country. Walter H. Beech was born in 1891 and raised in nearby Pulaski, Tennessee. In 1924, prior to founding the Beech Aircraft Company, he, along with Clyde Cessna, and Lloyd Stearman, became principals in the newly formed Travel Air Manufacturing Company, located in Wichita, Kansas. Each of these legendary aviation pioneers soon founded successful aircraft companies bearing their respective names.

In August of 1929, Travel Air became a major subsidiary of the giant Curtiss-Wright Corporation, and by early 1932, as President of the Curtiss Wright Airplane Company, Walter Beech believed that the market was in need of a “high-speed, four-place cabin biplane.” When he attempted to interest Curtiss-Wright senior management in producing this new aircraft by presenting the concept drawings of engineer Ted Wells, they refused, citing the harsh economic climate as the reason. Consequently, Walter resigned from Curtiss-Wright to found the Beech Aircraft Company on April 19, 1932. His partners were his wife, Olive Ann Beech, Ted Wells, K.K. Shaul, and investor C. G. Yankey.

The first Beechcraft, a Model 17R, registered NC499N, was test flown by Wilbur “Pete” Hill on November 5, 1932, less than seven months after the company was founded. The aircraft served as the Beech Aircraft demonstrator until May 24, 1934, when it was purchased by the Ethyl Corporation. This masterpiece is beautifully displayed in the museum’s Walter Beech Hangar.

The initial inspiration for the 1973 founding of the Museum by the Staggerwing Club came from pioneer aviatrix Louise Thaden. Flying a stock 1936 C17R “Staggerwing,” she and co-pilot Blance Noyes won first place in the 1936 Bendix Trophy Race, besting racing professionals and military aircraft in a one-day flight from New York to Los Angeles. Early in the 1970’s Louise was a guest speaker at the Club’s annual fly-in and offered to donate all of her racing and aviatrix paraphernalia if the Staggerwing enthusiast’s would start a museum. The original museum structure was a log cabin erected in 1974 and was named the Staggerwing Museum Foundation. In 1995, the museum expanded its Beechcraft family to welcome the Twin Beech 18. Following on the heels of the Model 17 Staggerwing, the Model 18 “Twin Beech” was introduced by Beech Aircraft. In 1937. This airplane is arguable the most versatile general aviation aircraft ever developed, enjoying a civilian/military production run of nearly 8,000 aircraft in over thirty-three years.