In 1986, Al Martin, Terry Lauby, Dave Smith and Chris Larsen joined together to establish the Heartland Museum. The four men shared a passion for restoring military vehicles and the museum?s establishment was their way of ensuring that restoration and preservation efforts for it would continue. Today, the museum about a hundred military vehicles that include tanks and helicopters, ambulances and halftracks, and interestingly enough, a jeep representing every military service branch. Over the years, the museum has also added to its collection military artifacts such as uniforms, weapons, equipment, engines and other items necessary to a military soldier?s way of life.

As a way of promoting the museum, the four men joined various Veterans? Day festivities, putting their restored vehicles on display and even allowing other people to drive the vehicles around. Even today, majority of the museum?s collection of vehicles remain operational. Majority of the vehicles on display have also been acquired within a 150-mile radius of the city. Highlights of the museum?s collection include a US Army Bradley Fighting Vehicle and a pair of M-60 Tanks.