Russell Military Museum

Last updated
Russell Military Museum
USA Illinois location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Location within Illinois
Former name
Kenosha Military Museum
Established1986 (1986)
Location Russell, Illinois
Coordinates 42°29′31″N87°57′04″W / 42.492°N 87.951°W / 42.492; -87.951
Type Military museum
FounderMark Sonday
Website www.russellmilitarymuseum.com

The Russell Military Museum, originally begun as the Kenosha Military Museum is a military museum located in Russell, Illinois.

Contents

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

Bell AH-1 Cobra AH-1 Cobra RMM.jpg
Bell AH-1 Cobra

Ground vehicles

M4 Sherman M4 Sherman 7.jpg
M4 Sherman
Cadillac Peacekeeper Cadillac Gage Ranger.jpg
Cadillac Peacekeeper

See also

References

  1. 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.
  2. 1 2 3 Verstraete, Christine A. (28 April 1996). "A Farewell to Arms?". Chicago Tribune. pp. 1–2. Retrieved 11 September 2023.
  3. Golub, Rob (15 April 2006). "The Man with the Munitions: Mark Sonday Operates Kenosha Military Museum". The Reporter. p. A6. 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. Potente, Joe. "Kenosha Military Museum Relocates". Kenosha News. Retrieved 5 October 2025.
  8. Gibbard, Dan (22 August 2006). "Idled War Gear Goes on the March Again". Chicago Tribune. pp. 1, 4. Retrieved 11 September 2023.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 "Russell Military Museum". Exhibits. Retrieved 11 September 2023.