| Russell Military Museum | |
| Map Type: | Illinois |
| Coordinates: | 42.492°N -87.951°W |
| Former Name: | Kenosha Military Museum |
| Location: | Zion, Illinois |
| Type: | Military museum |
| Founder: | Mark Sonday |
The Russell Military Museum is a military museum located in Zion, Illinois.
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]
The Kenosha Military Museum was founded by Sonday in 1986 and opened in 1989 in Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin.[2] [3] 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.[4] 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]
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 15000square feet building in Zion, Illinois where it became the Russell Military Museum.[7]