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Russell Military Museum

Coordinates: 42°29′31″N 87°57′04″W / 42.492°N 87.951°W / 42.492; -87.951
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Russell Military Museum
Russell Military Museum is located in Illinois
Russell Military Museum
Location within Illinois
Former name
Kenosha Military Museum
Established1986 (1986)
LocationZion, Illinois
Coordinates42°29′31″N 87°57′04″W / 42.492°N 87.951°W / 42.492; -87.951
TypeMilitary museum
FounderMark Sonday
Websitewww.russellmilitarymuseum.com

The Russell Military Museum is a military museum located in Zion, Illinois.

History

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Background

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Mark Sonday began collecting surplus military equipment as a child at Navy Pier in Chicago. In 1980, he purchased 11 former American tanks from Israel. He also joined a group of collectors which provided for movies such as First Blood, Courage Under Fire and Saving Private Ryan.[1][2]

Establishment in Pleasant Prairie

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The Kenosha Military Museum was founded by Sonday in 1986 and opened in 1989 in Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin.[3][4] However, ten years after its establishment, the museum was being criticized for the poor condition of its collection. It announced plans for a new building and requested a corresponding zoning change for the property.[1] The change failed to pass a vote, due to the petitions of the adjacent property owners. The museum then filed a lawsuit against the county.[5] In 2002, the county used eminent domain to reclaim the land on which it sat.[6]

Move to Zion

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A settlement was reached in 2006, in which the museum received a $3.9 million payment, but was forced to vacate the property. It moved across the state line to a new site with a 15,000 sq ft (1,400 m2) building in Zion, Illinois where it became the Russell Military Museum.[7]

Collection

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Aircraft

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Bell AH-1 Cobra

Ground vehicles

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M4 Sherman
Cadillac Peacekeeper

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b Verstraete, Christine A. (28 April 1996). "A Farewell to Arms?". Chicago Tribune. pp. 1–2. Retrieved 11 September 2023.
  2. ^ Golub, Rob (15 April 2006). "The Man with the Munitions: Mark Sonday Operates Kenosha Military Museum". The Reporter. p. A6. Retrieved 11 September 2023.
  3. ^ Deffenbaugh, Carl (28 May 2018). "'See it with your own eyes:' Military museum offers everything from cannonballs to F-15 fighter jets". FOX 6 Milwaukee. Retrieved 11 September 2023.
  4. ^ Passino, Brian (24 May 2016). "Snapshot: Military museum has the hardware". Kenosha News. Retrieved 11 September 2023.
  5. ^ Jensen, Arlene (20 February 1998). "Sonday's Lawsuit Not Dismissed". Kenosha News. p. D1. Retrieved 11 September 2023.
  6. ^ Dobberstein, John (3 October 2007). "Military Museum Rises After Fight". Chicago Tribune. p. 3. Retrieved 11 September 2023.
  7. ^ Gibbard, Dan (22 August 2006). "Idled War Gear Goes on the March Again". Chicago Tribune. pp. 1, 4. Retrieved 11 September 2023.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay az ba bb bc bd be bf bg bh bi bj bk bl bm bn bo bp bq br bs bt bu bv bw bx by "Russell Military Museum". Exhibits. Retrieved 11 September 2023.
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