Our 20th Season

It has been 20 years since Virgil Schwanke opened the museum to the public to share his collection of tractors, trucks, and cars.

We are busy preparing the museum for the 2019 season, which begins Saturday, May 18.

The museum entrance has moved to the tractor parts sales area at the west end of the museum building, inside the security fence. 

Museum hours are:
Monday-Friday: 9 am to 4 pm
Saturday: 9 am to noon. 

If you have questions about the museum, or making a reservation for your group, please give us a call at 320-235-4341 or 800-537-5582.


  

Welcome

Welcome Friends.
Today I am just going to introduce the Museum to you with just a little history.
The Schwanke Museum first opened it's doors to the public in 1999 at the time the collection was not as big as it is now, but it still was impressive. Today the museum host over 200 tractors, over a hundred different Car, Trucks, Large and Small Gas and Diesel engines.

 Virgil Schwanke bought his first car at the ripe age of 15. A 1926 Ford model T coupe which is featured as you walk into the main part of the museum. On this blog I will try to feature one car, tractor, or truck per week. I will also try to give a brief history of how the museum acquired the vehicle if I can but I will give a history of the car just so you know what it is, where it was made, and if we restored the vehicle.

If you have any questions I would love to try and help answer any that you may have.
You will have to forgive my photographic skills I don't have a camera so I use my cell phone camera.

Thank you.

In memory of Virgil Schwanke

Schwanke Museum founder Virgil Schwanke passed away May 14, 2017.  We want to honor his memory by sharing his life information.  His desire to preserve the cars and trucks of the past will be shared with future generations.

The Schwanke Museum is now starting its 20th season.