Grandpa’s Story
If you ever asked my grandpa, Wilmer B. Rogers (lovingly called Grandpa Jack, though we don’t know why), what he did for a living, he’d probably show you his official NASA commendation for engineering the communication networks that put a man on the moon during the Apollo 11 mission.
...But if you looked at his top-secret-looking briefcases and the way he closely guarded his massive stash of vintage space items, you’d swear he was a Cold War spy moonlighting at a desk job. (We can neither confirm nor deny the espionage, but the vibe was definitely there.)
What we can officially confirm is that Grandpa Jack had two great loves: outer space, and absolutely never throwing a single thing away.
The Ultimate Space-Age Vault
While most people came home from work with just a paycheck, Grandpa Jack came home with pieces of history. Thanks to his beautifully chaotic refusal to ever declutter, our family inherited a literal time capsule of the Apollo era. He saved everything…from authentic NASA documents and photos to rare space-race memorabilia.
For decades, this incredible collection sat preserved in his estate. But opening up Grandpa’s legendary vault sparked a much bigger mission. We realized that there are countless other historical archives tucked away in garages and attics, waiting to be rediscovered.
Building Space Heritage
That is how Space Heritage was born. What started with Grandpa Jack's vault has expanded into a premier destination for preserving the Space Age. Today, we actively purchase and rescue NASA and space-era estates from other families, ensuring these irreplaceable pieces of history don't get lost to time.
Every piece you see here is 100% authentic and historical. By taking a piece home (or trusting us with a collection you’ve inherited) you aren't just buying a vintage collectible; you're honoring genuine space-age pioneers and keeping a piece of cosmic history alive.
Meet the Curator: Sam
To most of the world, he was Wilmer B. Rogers. To me, he was Grandpa. And depending on the day, I was Sam, Sammie, or-if I was in trouble- Samantha.
Our relationship wasn't perfect. We weren't incredibly close, and we didn’t talk toward the end of his life. I’ve stepped into this collection with a lot of questions that will simply never be answered. But human relationships are complicated, and love shows up in unexpected ways. For us, it showed up in the things we shared: a deep reverence for history, a fascination with space, and an absolute obsession with photography.
Capturing History Through the Lens
My grandpa was rarely seen without a camera. Alongside his NASA gear, he left behind an incredible camera collection and boxes upon boxes of film negatives. He was the man behind the lens for the vintage photos of Mission Control during the Apollo 11 mission that you see scattered across this website.
As a photographer myself and an avid collector of vintage goods, I inherited that exact same drive to preserve the past. I love the hunt, the stories behind old objects, and the feeling of holding a tangible piece of time in your hands.
Expanding the Legacy
Space Heritage is where our worlds finally align. It’s my way of honoring his massive legacy, but it has also grown into something much bigger.
We realized that we aren't the only family holding onto pieces of mankind's greatest adventure. Today, we actively purchase NASA and space-era estates from other families who find themselves caretakers of history. Because I know firsthand how overwhelming it can be to inherit a mountain of history, I take pride in providing a trusted, respectful home for these archives.
Every time you buy a piece from Space Heritage, or trust us with a collection you’ve inherited, you’re helping keep the spirit of discovery alive. Thank you for being a part of the journey.
