U.S. First Division Museum at Cantigny: Part I

The Museum at Cantigny is a permanent display focused on the U.S First Division, known as "The Big Red One."

Located in Wheaton, Illinois, the 500-acre section of land, located 30 miles west of Chicago, was acquired by Joseph Medill for a country estate in the late 1800s. Medill was co-owner and managing editor of the Chicago Tribune and mayor of Chicago in 1871, immediately following the great fire. Medill named it Red Oaks. After his death, the estate was passed on to his grandson, Colonel McCormick. 

McCormick, who served in World War I, fought at the Battle of Cantigny and renamed the estate in honor of the battle. Having no children, he established a trust with his fortune, and directed that it be transformed into a park for use by the general public. 

Unfortunately, the museum is currently undergoing a $7 million renovation and won't reopen until the summer of 2017, which will observe the centennial of the 1rst Infantry Division and World War I. Keep it in mind when you're thinking about next year's vacation plans, but note that its closed on Mondays. The renovations will primarily focus upon the division's service since Vietnam, including Iraq and Afghanistan.

When I first visited the museum during college in the mid-1970s, it consisted of a single enclosure that showed a short video. A few tanks were sprinkled throughout the park.There was no rhyme or reason to any of it. However, the photos I took during my return in 2010, shown here, are evidence of a tremendous effort to build a first-rate museum. The current facility opened in 2005.

Before the renovations began, the museum featured 10,000 square feet of state of the art interactive and experiential exhibits, depicting the evolution of uniforms, as well as the battles and campaigns the division participated in from WWI to today. The museum has been able to grow its library, archive, and photo collections, through the generous donations from veterans, families, and friends, including medals of honor, uniforms and various equipment.Tank Park, which surrounds the museum, features 11 tanks from WWI to the present. It also displays an armored personnel carrier and four artillery  pieces. Part II will feature photos of Tank Park and the various armored vehicles on display.