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These exhibits describe life at Chanute over the years and the roles
of various military and civilian organizations on base:
Chanute Barracks
 This exhibit depicts a typical barracks scene
on base. The left-hand side of the diorama contains artifacts
from the 1940s and the right-hand side contains ones from the
1950s. The windows used in the exhibit are from original barracks
buildings built at Chanute Field in the 1940s. |
The Uniforms We Wore
 This exhibit shows examples of many of the uniforms
worn by the men and women of the Army Air Service, Army Air
Corps, Army Air Forces, and United States Air Force from 1917
to 1993. |
To Feed an Army
 This exhibit displays the history of food service
at Chanute. The room features the original chow line from Mathias
Hall, mess tins used in 1941, menus, and a 1946 U.S. Army recipe
book.
At the time of Chanute's closure in 1993, base mess halls were
serving 181,000 meals per month. During World War II Chanute's
mess halls were serving 75,000 meals per day. |
Chanute Pastimes
 During Chanute's history several military and
civilian groups were formed to aid in the morale of the many
people who were stationed here. Whether it was going to the
base theater or spending time during the holidays with a local
Rantoul family, Chanute provided its personnel with all the
comforts of family life. |
Spiritual Well-Being
 In this exhibit visitors are shown the role of
the base Chaplain at Chanute and elsewhere in the U.S. armed
forces. It also describes the history of chapels at Chanute
from 1938 to 1993. Artifacts in the exhibit include a USAF Chaplain's
uniform, prayer books, and a church newspaper. Chanute AFB offered
religious services and guidance for airmen of Protestant, Catholic,
and Jewish religious denominations. |
Heroes on the Homefront
 This exhibit depicts the role of the YMCA and
American Red Cross in maintaining morale at Chanute. Artifacts
displayed include a Red Cross female volunteer's uniform, a
base pass issued to a civilian for a dance at Chanute during
the war, and Red Cross rules and membership card from World
War II. |
Medical Services
 The first hospital at Chanute Field opened in
1917. The hospital was composed of: one x-ray room, forty cots,
one operating room, and one kitchen. Services in the hospital
consisted of: basic care, care for the common cold, delivery
of newborns, and dental work--filling and extracting teeth.
Airmen and their dependents received medical care from the Chanute
Field Medical Staff. Retired servicemen also received medical
care at the Chanute Field Hospital.
This exhibit describes the history of Chanute's medical care
from 1917-1993. Artifacts include: a nursing uniform from Chanute
in 1942, a dental chair from Chanute's last dental clinic, and
various surgical tools and equipment from Chanute's hospital
and dental clinic. |
Chanute Field Timeline
 The Timeline Hallway covers the history of Chanute
from 1917 through closure in 1993. Various significant events
and people are highlighted down through the years. |
Base Commander's Office
 During the late 1930s and early 1940s, a major
expansion and reconstruction program was undertaken at Chanute
Field. Construction included a new Headquarters building, complete
with new furnishings for the Commander's office. Those furnishings
remained in use by succeeding commanders until base closure
in September 1993. As the Air Force ended activities and departed,
the Commander's office was allowed to remain in place as a part
of the rich heritage that was Chanute Air Force Base. This exhibit
recreates the Commander's Office using the authentic furnishings
used by commanders for more than five decades prior to base
closure. We gratefully acknowledge the many personal mementos
provided to us by some of the former commanders and their families
for this exhibit. |
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