Taking flight
Fagen Fighters WWII Museum receives award for tourism
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GRANITE FALLS -- The Fagen Fighters WWII Museum is only four years old, but it's already been recognized for its tourism by Explore Minnesota.
The award was presented Jan. 31 at the 2017 Tourism Conference in St. Paul. The museum was listed in good company, along with the Spam Museum in Austin and the Glensheen Mansion in Duluth.
"We feel a real honor to even be in that group," Diane Fagen told reporters.
Situated on the prairie flatlands just three miles south of Granite Falls, it is housed on the property of Lenzen-Roe-Fagen Memorial Airport.
The museum attracted more than 10,000 visitors during the 2016 tourist season, from the end of May until August. Visitors came from all over the United States, France and Australia.
"They all responded in the same way, 'We had no idea this was here,'" Diane said. "They were very surprised."
Its nomination was a surprise to its owners Diane and Ron Fagen. Diane said that Granite Falls Chamber of Commerce Director Mary Gillespie had called her to let her know that Gillespie had been the one to submit the application.
Because the museum offers quality pieces of World War II machinery and aircraft, it is a great attraction to history buffs.
"Fagen Fighters WWII Museum is home to a pristine collection of fully operational, active aircraft and vehicles from World War II," the Fagens said on their website. "Also featured are fine art, bronze sculptures, interactive multimedia displays, and an ever-growing library. The facility is designed as a self guided experience, and gives a rare look into the lives and legacy of the Greatest Generation. The Museum's main hangar displays our collection of fully operational fighter aircraft, amazing wall murals, fine art, ground equipment, and a bronze sculpture of the 4th Infantry storming Utah Beach on D-Day. We want to be authentic and true to American's World War II experience."
The Fagens said they wanted to focus on World War II era for two reasons.
First, it is a family-run museum with a skeleton crew. If they were going to do it, they wanted to do it well.
Plus, its conception was inspired by Ron's father, Ray Fagen, who served in World War II in the 4th Infantry.
"We wanted to recognize this generation for the sacrifices they made for the nation and those at home that supported the effort," Ron said.
"It was a time when everyone pulled together toward one goal," Diane added. "Plus there was a lot of style in that era -- in the music and everything. It was a neat time. We've gotten to know a lot of those people and there was no ego involved. They just did their job, came home and lived their lives."
Over the course of the past year, the Fagen Fighters WWII Museum has put together a video presentation for tourists called "Voices of Valor" featuring such famous veterans such as The Last of the Doolittle Raiders, Lt. Col. Richard "Dick" Cole, who visited the museum last July, as well as several, more local figures.
"It's an oral history put on in the museum theater in the bomber hangar," Diane said.
This video presentation will be available during museum hours this year. Museum hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, December through March, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday from April to the end of November. A $10 per adult admission is suggested. The museum is a 501c3 organization.
The museum is staffed with one full-time and two part-time visitor service representatives. Ann Hanson is full time, and Mike Ellgen and Steve Lindquist are part time.
"We also have a six-person restoration team who are continuously restoring World War II aircraft," Ron said. "It's called Fagen Fighters Restoration, and it's here at the airport."
The team restores and maintains the warbirds housed in the museum, Diane added.
The Fagens said the state of Minnesota will be resurfacing the airport runway this year, so the next big event for Fagen Fighters WWII Museum will be the Air Show being planned for June of 2018. It will feature World War II aircraft, they said.