Rantoul, Illinois
General, History, Military
In light of the impending closure of Chanute Air Force Base in Rantoul, Illinois, Mayor Katy Podagrosi established the Air Museum Committee in 1989. She concluded: "A museum will not contribute to Rantoul's economic survival; it will contribute to Rantoul's cultural survival."
In 1991, The Air Museum Committee was charged with establishing a governing Foundation and acquiring the funding for a museum.