Loading 3d Models into an openGL canvas

It's not so straight forward to load 3d models into an openGl canvas.

here are some links:

(most promising)
GLEW:
The OpenGL Extension Wrangler Library

(monolithic and ugly)
http://www.thermoanalytics.com/products/eclectic/download.html

(file converter)
http://www.quick3d.com/guide/guidea.html


(discussion w/ links)
http://cboard.cprogramming.com/archive/index.php/t-37127.html

(a library of models)
http://www.the3darchive.com/archive_bellrang.shtml