Wikipedia

Naval Air Station Glenview Museum

The Naval Air Station Glenview Museum is an aviation museum located in Glenview, Illinois focused on the history of Naval Air Station Glenview.

Naval Air Station Glenview Museum
Naval Air Station Glenview Museum is located in Illinois
Naval Air Station Glenview Museum
Location within Illinois
Established2004 (2004)
LocationGlenview, Illinois
Coordinates42°05′30″N 87°48′50″W / 42.0917°N 87.8140°W / 42.0917; -87.8140
TypeAviation museum
FounderA. C. Realie
Websitewww.thehangarone.org

History edit

Background edit

Further information: Naval Air Station Glenview
 
Statue of a naval airman sponsored by the museum

When NAS Glenview closed in 1995, plans were made to redevelop the former property into the Glen Town Center.[1] The Glenview Hangar One Foundation was founded by A. C. Realie in 1996 to preserve the eponymous 180,000 sq ft (17,000 m2) hangar and turn it into a museum.[2][3][4] The foundation's efforts led to Hangar One and the former control tower being placed on the National Register of Historic Places in November 1998.[5][6] However, two years later, the group argued that the hangar should be removed as its historic integrity had been significantly compromised.[7] A large open area on the site of the former base was dedicated as Navy Park in October 2003.[8][9]

Establishment edit

 
The former base control tower, previous home of the museum

The museum opened in a 2,800 sq ft (260 m2) store in the former base control tower in June 2004.[10] It was forced to close in March 2005 after the developer elected not to renew the one-year lease.[11][12] The museum moved to a nearby 900 sq ft (84 m2) space, where it reopened on 7 July 2006.[13][14]

In December 2012, a General Motors FM-2 Wildcat, BuNo 57039, was recovered from Lake Michigan. The group partnered with another organization, Bring It Home, Glenview, to advocate that it should be placed in the museum.[15][16][a]

A feasibility study was commissioned in June 2015 to evaluate the possibility of building a 16,000 sq ft (1,500 m2) facility at one of three locations.[14] To raise money for the new museum, the foundation produced a film about naval flight training in Lake Michigan during World War II that debuted in May 2016.[18][19] The study was completed in August 2018.[20] However, the Glenview Park Board rejected a proposal to build the museum in Gallery Park in October 2020.[21]

Exhibits edit

Exhibits at the museum include an R-2600 recovered from Lake Michigan, displays about George H. W. Bush and Butch O'Hare and a pew from the base chapel.[22]

Collection edit

See also edit

References edit

Footnotes edit

  1. ^ The Navy eventually decided that the aircraft would be placed on loan to the National Medal of Honor Museum in Arlington, Texas.[17]

Notes edit

  1. ^ "Glen Town Center". Glenview Hangar One Foundation. Archived from the original on 22 January 2013. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
  2. ^ "Aviation Museum Seeks Local Support". Chicago Tribune. 20 January 1996. p. 5. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
  3. ^ Spencer, LeAnn (8 September 1998). "Saving Old Hangar is No Flight of Fancy". Chicago Tribune. p. 4. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
  4. ^ Black, Lisa (28 June 2003). "Residents Doubtful on Mall's Prospects". Chicago Tribune. p. 9. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
  5. ^ "Asset Detail [Hangar 1, Naval Air Station--Glenview]". National Park Service. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
  6. ^ Cox, Brian; Messenger, Janet (17 February 2000). "Dog-Eared Library Gets a Budget-Cutting Look". Chicago Tribune. p. 3. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
  7. ^ Finkel, Ed; Laue, Sue (19 December 2002). "Rebuffed Niles Schools OK Tax Levy Hike". Chicago Tribune. p. 9. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
  8. ^ "Navy Park". Glenview Hangar One Foundation. Archived from the original on 23 January 2013. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
  9. ^ "Naval Air Station's Memory Stands Tall". Chicago Tribune. 6 April 2003. p. 2. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
  10. ^ Kapinos, Tina (25 August 2004). "Naval Museum Takes Off in the Right Direction". Chicago Tribune. pp. 15–16. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
  11. ^ Channick, Robert (22 March 2005). "Naval Air Museum Told to Shove Off". Chicago Tribune. p. 3. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
  12. ^ "Air Base Museum Has Landed at Town Center". Chicago Tribune. 11 July 2004. p. 2. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
  13. ^ Gibbard, Dan (7 July 2006). "A Year Later, Museum Flies Again". Chicago Tribune. p. 3. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
  14. ^ a b Kukulka, Alexandra (1 July 2016). "Glenview Park District Considers 3 Locations for Naval Air Station Glenview Museum". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
  15. ^ "FM-2 Wildcat". Bring It Home, Glenview. Archived from the original on 5 February 2015. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
  16. ^ "Grumman Wildcat Retrieved From Lake Michigan". Warbirds News. 24 February 2013. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
  17. ^ "Partnership Boosts Air Zoo FM-2 Wildcat Restoration Project". Vintage Aviation News. 14 July 2022. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
  18. ^ "[Homepage]". Heroes on Deck. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
  19. ^ Kukulka, Alexandra (16 June 2016). "Organizations Seek New Home for Museum". Chicago Tribune. p. 6. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
  20. ^ Robb, Tom (27 August 2018). "Naval Air Station Glenview Museum Study Complete". Journal & Topics. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
  21. ^ Robb, Tom (26 October 2020). "Glenview Park Board Votes No On NASG Museum Agreement". Journal & Topics. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
  22. ^ "Naval Air Station Glenview Museum". Glenview Hangar One Foundation. Archived from the original on 24 January 2013. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
  23. ^ "Airframe Dossier - Sikorsky HH-52A Seaguard, s/n 1459 USCG, c/n 62-138". Aerial Visuals. Retrieved 6 February 2024.

External links edit

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