BANNOCKBURN, Ill.–Great Lakes Credit Union has made a $50,000 donation to support the National Museum of the American Sailor, the only museum dedicated to the enlisted sailor.
The museum campus, to be located in North Chicago near the Great Lakes Naval Station, will be designed with the purpose to preserve, educate and celebrate the history of the United States Navy’s enlisted sailor.
According to Great Lakes CU, the campus will comprise approximately 3.5 acres of landscaped grounds, water features, reflecting pool, anchor honor memorial, and sculptured gardens. More than 40,000-square-feet of interior museum space will contain multiple exhibit galleries, a performance auditorium (presentations, lectures, speeches, graduations and ceremonies), conference and meeting rooms, and Science Technology Engineering Math (STEM) Laboratory providing cultural, educational, and community civic impact.
“This endeavor will create critical economic benefits to Lake County,” stated Ken Tucker, president of the National Museum of the American Sailor Foundation, “Once complete, we estimate more than 400,000 visitors each year, bringing more than $8 million annually to North Chicago and surrounding communities in retail and careers. This endeavor is an enormous undertaking. Our sailors, their families, and our nation deserve the best we can offer to them.”