With March being Women’s History Month, there is no better time to visit the Breaking Barriers: Women in the Military exhibit at Dunn Museum. On exhibit through June 13, Breaking Barriers: Women in the Military shares interesting Lake County stories and highlights women’s roles as nurses, auxiliary personnel, enlistees and officers in the U.S. military.

The front of the Dunn Museum. © John Weinstein

Located northwest of Chicago in Libertyville, Dunn Museum is named for Bess Bower Dunn, one of Lake County’s earliest genealogists. Also one of the first women in motion pictures, Dunn documented the county’s history through her photography and recorded meetings with early residents. Some of the artifacts and documents housed in the Dunn Museum were acquired personally by Dunn. Operated by Lake County Forest Preserves, Dunn Museum gives an incredibly thorough look into the history of the area.

Lobby of the Dunn Museum. © John Weinstein

The Breaking Barriers: Women in the Military exhibit features uniforms, documents, photographs and other artifacts. The exhibit honors area women who served our country, including pilot Janice Christensen, Midshipman 1st Class Sydney Barber and Marine Corps Women’s Reserve Betty Lewis.

Raised in Waukegan, Christensen took flying lessons at Waukegan Airport (Burris Field) and was an original member of the Waukegan Civil Air Patrol. After signing up to be a Women’s Air Force Service Pilot (WASP), Christensen became one of the 1,074 graduates to successfully complete the training program. In 1977 the WASPs finally received veterans’ recognition. Christensen posthumously received the Congressional Medal of Honor and a WWII Victory Medal for her service in 2018.

Janice Christensen display. © John Weinstein

After growing up in Deerfield, Lewis enlisted with the Marine Corps Women’s Reserves at the age of 26. After training at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina, Lewis and the other 19,000 Women Reserve recruits were given assignments around the country. In 1946, with the demobilization of the men, all women were released from duty, and Lewis was discharged. Although the Women’s Armed Services Integration Act of 1948 allowed women to be recruited, they only served in administrative roles until 2016, when all military positions were opened to women.

Betty Lewis display. © John Weinstein

In November 2020, Midshipman 1st Class Sydney Barber, a graduate of Lake Forest High School, was selected as the next brigade commander at the United States Naval Academy, becoming the first African American woman — and only the 16th woman — to take on the role in the Academy’s 175-year history. In the highest leadership position within the brigade, Barber is directly involved with the daily activities and training for the current brigade of over 4,400 midshipmen. Upon graduation, Barber will be an officer in the Marine Corps.

Part of the Inspiration Wall in the exhibition. © United States Naval Academy

The Dunn Museum houses nearly 20,000 artifacts and 1,000 linear feet of archival materials. Our Voice Is Black History is a virtual exhibition running through October. The North Shore Gas Education Classroom hosts summer camps, programs and other events. A life-sized Dryptosaurus dinosaur is also on hand to greet visitors.

An easy half hour ride from Chicago, the Dunn Museum is a bit of a hidden gem in the northwest suburbs. The Breaking Barriers: Women in the Military exhibit is the perfect reason to make the trip, and Women’s History Month is the perfect time to do so.

— John Wroblewski, online writer