Chanute Air Force Base, located in Rantoul, Illinois, was established in 1917 during World War I to train pilots. After the war, the base was used as a warehouse and faced the possibility of closure. However, it was saved and underwent improvements in the 1920s and 1930s. During World War II, the base experienced significant growth but eventually closed in 1993. The closure had a negative impact on the local economy, and the base is now privately owned and largely abandoned.