First Division Museum - Wheaton, IL
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Go Boilers!
N 41° 51.155 W 088° 09.306
16T E 404116 N 4634053
A museum dedicated to the the 1st Infantry Division of the United States Army — nicknamed “The Big Red One” after its shoulder patch.
Waymark Code: WM4VW7
Location: Illinois, United States
Date Posted: 10/03/2008
Views: 16
There is no charge for the museum, but a parking fee applies to access the Cantigny estate, which houses the First Division Museum. It is the oldest division in the United States Army and has seen continuous service since its organization in 1917.
Col. Robert R. McCormick, the late editor and publisher of the Chicago Tribune, owned this estate. His service with the Fighting First during WWI had so impressed him that he renamed his estate
Cantigny in honor of the Division’s first battle in France. When Col. McCormick passed away, his will set up a trust to open and maintain his estate as a public park. The trustees honored the Colonel’s love of the division by establishing a First Division Museum on the estate.
The museum features a replica of a WW1 trench and a landing at
Omaha beach from WW2. A variety of tanks are on display outside the museum.
Hours:
Closed during the month of January and some holidays.
February
Open Friday-Sunday 10 am-4 pm
March--Day before Memorial Day
Open Tuesday-Sunday 10 am-4 pm
Memorial Day--Labor Day
Open Tuesday-Sunday 10 am-5pm
Day after Labor Day--December 31
Open Tuesday-Sunday 10 am-4 pm