Russell Military Museum
Location within Illinois | |
Former name | Kenosha Military Museum |
|---|---|
| Established | 1986 |
| Location | Russell, Illinois |
| Coordinates | 42°29′31″N 87°57′04″W / 42.492°N 87.951°W |
| Type | Military museum |
| Founder | Mark Sonday |
| Website | www |
The Russell Military Museum, originally begun as the Kenosha Military Museum is a military museum located in Russell, Illinois.
History
Mark Sonday began collecting surplus military equipment in the 1970s.[1] In 1980, he purchased 11 former American tanks from Israel. He also joined a group of collectors which provided props for movies such as First Blood, Courage Under Fire and Saving Private Ryan.[2][3]
The Kenosha Military Museum opened in 1989 in the former town of Bristol, Wisconsin.[2][4] Ten years after establishment, Sonday announced plans for a new building and requested a corresponding zoning change for the property.[2] 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, Kenosha County used eminent domain to reclaim the land on which it sat.[6]
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 Russell, Illinois[7] where it was renamed the Russell Military Museum.[8]
Collection
Aircraft
- Aero Commander U-9[9]
- Bell AH-1 Cobra[9]
- Bell OH-58 Kiowa[9]
- Bell UH-1B Iroquois[9]
- Bell UH-1H Iroquois[9]
- Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II[9]
- General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon[9]
- Grumman OV-1 Mohawk[9]
- Gyrodyne QH-50 DASH[9]
- Hiller H-23 Raven[9]
- Hughes OH-6 Cayuse[9]
- Hughes TH-55A Osage[9]
- Lockheed T-33[9]
- LTV A-7 Corsair II[9]
- McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle[9]
- Mil Mi-24[9]
- Northrop T-38 Talon[9]
- Republic F-84 Thunderjet[9]
- Sikorsky CH-34 Choctaw[9]
- Sikorsky CH-53 Sea Stallion[9]
- Sikorsky CH-54 Tarhe[9]
- Sikorsky HH-3[9]
Ground vehicles
- Bandvagn 206[9]
- Cadillac Peacekeeper[9]
- Centurion[9]
- CJ-750[9]
- Fast Attack Vehicle[9]
- Ferret armoured car[9]
- FMC XR311[9]
- Harley-Davidson WLA[9]
- LVTP-5[9]
- M3A1 half-track[9]
- M3A1 Stuart[9]
- M4 Sherman[9]
- M4 tractor[9]
- M5 Stuart[9]
- M5 tractor[9]
- M7 Priest[9]
- M16A1 multiple gun motor carriage[9]
- M29C Weasel[9]
- M32 tank recovery vehicle[9]
- M35[9]
- M37[9]
- M41 Walker Bulldog[9]
- M42 Duster[9]
- M47 Patton[9]
- M48 AVLB[9]
- M48 Patton[9]
- M60 Patton[9]
- M110 howitzer[9]
- M113 armored personnel carrier[9]
- M114 Command and Reconnaissance Carrier[9]
- M116 Husky[9]
- M151[9]
- M274[9]
- M548[9]
- M561 Gama Goat[9]
- M578 light recovery vehicle[9]
- M715[9]
- M725[9]
- M726[9]
- M816[9]
- M911[9]
- M984[9]
- M998[9]
- M1008[9]
- M1009[9]
- M1030[9]
- MLull EBFL[9]
- Pandur I[9]
- Sexton[9]
- Unimog[9]
- V-100 Commando[9]
- M38[9]
- Willys MB[9]
- Wollard MB-4[9]
- XM-501[9]
See also
References
- ^ 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.
- ^ a b c 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Potente, Joe. "Kenosha Military Museum Relocates". Kenosha News. Retrieved 5 October 2025.
- ^ Gibbard, Dan (22 August 2006). "Idled War Gear Goes on the March Again". Chicago Tribune. pp. 1, 4. Retrieved 11 September 2023.
- ^ 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.