History of the Livingston County War Museum
One Man's (And Woman's) Dream
Dal Estes served in the U.S. Army during World War II and landed on D-Day, June 6th, 1944 on Omaha Beach, Normandy, France, in the greatest amphibious landing in history. He was a half-track driver with the 467th AAA Automatic Weapons Battalion attached to the First Infantry Division. That day changed the world, changed him and every one of those brave men forever. Dal captured a Nazi flag from the first bunker entered by Americans and returned it to a museum on that beach, where it is displayed and he is honored today. When he came home from his first visit to France in 50 years (1994), he realized that the respect he saw in Europe for military veterans was something lacking in America.
Dal Estes, Co-Founder
He Started giving talks to schools and civic groups all over that state for the Illinois Humanities Council. Vowing for 10 years to start his own museum, he wrote to countless politicians and groups for support and wouldn't take no for an answer. When people told Dal and Betty that Pontiac didn't need tourism or museums they didn't give up on their dreams. The 66 Museum opened early in 2004 and the War Museum had a "soft" opening in November of that same year followed by a grand opening in May 2005. Since then, we have been visited by guests from every American state and 72 foreign countries on 6 continents. Their dream continues today and we are inspired by it.
Neil Bach, Co-Founder