Mark Sonday began collecting surplus military equipment as a child at Navy Pier in Chicago.

He also joined a group of collectors which provided for movies such as First Blood, Courage Under Fire and Saving Private Ryan.

[1][2] The Kenosha Military Museum was founded by Sonday in 1986 and opened in 1989 in Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin.

[1] The change failed to pass a vote, due to the petitions of the adjacent property owners.

It moved across the state line to a new site with a 15,000 sq ft (1,400 m2) building in Zion, Illinois where it became the Russell Military Museum.