Russell Military Museum
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.
Establishment in Pleasant Prairie
The Kenosha Military Museum was founded by Sonday in 1986 and opened in 1989 in Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin. 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. 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. In 2002, the county used eminent domain to reclaim the land on which it sat.
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 m) building in Zion, Illinois where it became the Russell Military Museum.
Collection
Aircraft
- Aero Commander U-9
- Bell AH-1 Cobra
- Bell OH-58 Kiowa
- Bell UH-1B Iroquois
- Bell UH-1H Iroquois
- Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II
- General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon
- Grumman OV-1 Mohawk
- Gyrodyne QH-50 DASH
- Hiller H-23 Raven
- Hughes OH-6 Cayuse
- Hughes TH-55A Osage
- Lockheed T-33
- LTV A-7 Corsair II
- McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle
- Mil Mi-24
- Northrop T-38 Talon
- Republic F-84 Thunderjet
- Sikorsky CH-34 Choctaw
- Sikorsky CH-53 Sea Stallion
- Sikorsky CH-54 Tarhe
- Sikorsky HH-3
Ground vehicles
- Bandvagn 206
- Cadillac Peacekeeper
- Centurion
- CJ-750
- Fast Attack Vehicle
- Ferret armoured car
- FMC XR311
- Harley-Davidson WLA
- LVTP-5
- M3A1 half-track
- M3A1 Stuart
- M4 Sherman
- M4 tractor
- M5 Stuart
- M5 tractor
- M7 Priest
- M16A1 multiple gun motor carriage
- M29C Weasel
- M32 tank recovery vehicle
- M35
- M37
- M41 Walker Bulldog
- M42 Duster
- M47 Patton
- M48 AVLB
- M48 Patton
- M60 Patton
- M110 howitzer
- M113 armored personnel carrier
- M114 Command and Reconnaissance Carrier
- M116 Husky
- M151
- M274
- M548
- M561 Gama Goat
- M578 light recovery vehicle
- M715
- M725
- M726
- M816
- M911
- M984
- M998
- M1008
- M1009
- M1030
- MLull EBFL
- Pandur I
- Sexton
- Unimog
- V-100 Commando
- M38
- Willys MB
- Wollard MB-4
- XM-501
See also
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.
External links
