Russell Military Museum

Russell Military Museum is a military museum in Zion, Illinois, featuring fighter jets, helicopters, tanks, and an indoor exhibition space. The collection occupies extensive grounds and displays both ground and aircraft equipment alongside space program artifacts.

The museum was established in 1986 when Mark Sonday opened his growing personal collection of military vehicles to the public. Over time, the collection expanded to include space program artifacts and developed into a diverse exhibition venue.

The collection goes beyond military hardware to include items from space exploration and aviation history. Visitors encounter artifacts that connect different chapters of American technological achievement in one place.

The museum is open seasonally from April through November, and you should call ahead to confirm current hours before your visit. The grounds are spread out, so plan for plenty of time to explore both indoor and outdoor exhibits.

Visitors can ride inside an M113 armored personnel carrier, a rare hands-on experience with military hardware. The museum also preserves unusual spy equipment, including surveillance devices disguised as ordinary objects.