Great Lakes in Lake County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Building Four
Great Lakes History Trail Stop 5
The original Drill Hall, now a gymnasium, was designed with battered walls to give the massive building a military, fort-like appearance. Above the main entrance, the architects provided a large ornamentation of the bow of an ancient sailing ship, oars in oarlocks and surmounted by a large spread eagle to serve as a masthead. In times of war the Drill Hall has served variously as a storehouse, barracks, hospital ward and, during WWII, housed a Protestant chapel at one end and a Catholic chapel at the other.
Erected by Naval Station Great Lakes.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Education • Patriots & Patriotism • War, World I • War, World II.
Location. 42° 18.776′ N, 87° 50.324′ W. Marker is in Great Lakes, Illinois, in Lake County. It is on Dewey Avenue near Sampson Road, on the right when traveling west. Marker is in the Historic District of Naval Station Great Lakes. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Great Lakes IL 60088, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Greater Chicago. It is also in the American Midwest and on the Great Lakes. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture and also the Northwest Territory.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Original Architectural Design (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); World War I / Between the Wars (about 400 feet away); The First Recruit / Original Historic Structures (about 400 feet away); Black and White (about 400 feet away); The Golden Thirteen (about 400 feet away); Origins of the Base / Construction (about 400 feet away); World War II (about 600 feet away); Great Lakes Athletics (about 600 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Great Lakes.
Also see . . . Great Lakes Naval Training Station. Encyclopedia of Chicago website entry (Submitted on November 18, 2010, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.)
Credits. This page was last revised on October 8, 2024. It was originally submitted on November 18, 2010, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. This page has been viewed 821 times since then and 27 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. submitted on November 18, 2010, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. 8. submitted on November 5, 2022, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.







