Russell Military Museum
The Russell Military Museum is a military museum located in Zion, Illinois.
  Location within Illinois | |
Former name | Kenosha Military Museum |
|---|---|
| Established | 1986 |
| Location | Zion, Illinois |
| Coordinates | 42.492°N 87.951°W |
| Type | Military museum |
| Founder | Mark Sonday |
| Website | www |
History
Background
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
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 – being compared to a junk yard. 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
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
Aircraft
- Aero Commander U-9[8]
- Bell AH-1 Cobra[8]
- Bell OH-58 Kiowa[8]
- Bell UH-1B Iroquois[8]
- Bell UH-1H Iroquois[8]
- Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II[8]
- General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon[8]
- Grumman OV-1 Mohawk[8]
- Gyrodyne QH-50 DASH[8]
- Hiller H-23 Raven[8]
- Hughes OH-6 Cayuse[8]
- Hughes TH-55A Osage[8]
- Lockheed T-33[8]
- LTV A-7 Corsair II[8]
- McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle[8]
- Mil Mi-24[8]
- Northrop T-38 Talon[8]
- Republic F-84 Thunderjet[8]
- Sikorsky CH-34 Choctaw[8]
- Sikorsky CH-53 Sea Stallion[8]
- Sikorsky CH-54 Tarhe[8]
- Sikorsky HH-3[8]
Ground vehicles
- Bandvagn 206[8]
- Cadillac Peacekeeper[8]
- Centurion[8]
- CJ-750[8]
- Fast Attack Vehicle[8]
- Ferret armoured car[8]
- FMC XR311[8]
- Harley-Davidson WLA[8]
- LVTP-5[8]
- M3A1 half-track[8]
- M3A1 Stuart[8]
- M4 Sherman[8]
- M4 tractor[8]
- M5 Stuart[8]
- M5 tractor[8]
- M7 Priest[8]
- M16A1 Multiple Gun Motor Carriage[8]
- M29C Weasel[8]
- M32 Tank Recovery Vehicle[8]
- M35[8]
- M37[8]
- M41 Walker Bulldog[8]
- M42 Duster[8]
- M47 Patton[8]
- M48 AVLB[8]
- M48 Patton[8]
- M60 Patton[8]
- M110 howitzer[8]
- M113 armored personnel carrier[8]
- M114 Command and Reconnaissance Carrier[8]
- M116 Husky[8]
- M151[8]
- M274[8]
- M548[8]
- M561 Gama Goat[8]
- M578 light recovery vehicle[8]
- M715[8]
- M725[8]
- M726[8]
- M816[8]
- M911[8]
- M984[8]
- M998[8]
- M1008[8]
- M1009[8]
- M1030[8]
- MLull EBFL[8]
- Pandur I[8]
- Sexton[8]
- Unimog[8]
- V-100 Commando[8]
- M38[8]
- Willys MB[8]
- Wollard MB-4[8]
- XM-501[8]
References
- Verstraete, Christine A. (28 April 1996). "A Farewell to Arms?". Chicago Tribune. pp. 1–2. Retrieved 11 September 2023.
- Golub, Rob (15 April 2006). "The Man with the Munitions: Mark Sonday Operates Kenosha Military Museum". The Reporter. p. A6. Retrieved 11 September 2023.
- 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.
- Passino, Brian (24 May 2016). "Snapshot: Military museum has the hardware". Kenosha News. Retrieved 11 September 2023.
- Jensen, Arlene (20 February 1998). "Sonday's Lawsuit Not Dismissed". Kenosha News. p. D1. Retrieved 11 September 2023.
- Dobberstein, John (3 October 2007). "Military Museum Rises After Fight". Chicago Tribune. p. 3. Retrieved 11 September 2023.
- Gibbard, Dan (22 August 2006). "Idled War Gear Goes on the March Again". Chicago Tribune. pp. 1, 4. Retrieved 11 September 2023.
- "Russell Military Museum". Exhibits. Retrieved 11 September 2023.
