General George Patton Museum of Leadership facts for kids
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| Former name | Patton Museum of Cavalry and Armor (1972-2011) |
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| Established | 1948 |
| Location | Fort Knox, Kentucky |
| Type | History museum |
| Public transit access | Highway 31W |
The General George Patton Museum of Leadership is a museum located on the Fort Knox, Kentucky army base. It is open to the public and honors the famous U.S. Army General, George S. Patton, Jr..
The museum's main goal is to teach leadership skills. It focuses on training young Army leaders, especially those in the Army Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC). The museum is run by the U.S. Army and is part of its official network of military museums.
Contents
The Museum's Story
The museum's history began during World War II. General Patton's Third United States Army captured many enemy vehicles and weapons. They sent this equipment to Fort Knox to be studied.
After General Patton died in 1945, many of his personal items were also sent to Fort Knox. This collection grew so large that the Army decided to create a museum. The 'Patton Museum' officially opened in 1948.
A New Building and a New Name
In 1972, the collection moved into a new, larger building. The museum was renamed the 'Patton Museum of Cavalry and Armor'. Over the years, it was updated with help from the private Patton Museum Foundation.
In 2010, the U.S. Army Armor School moved from Fort Knox to Fort Benning, Georgia. Many of the museum's tanks and armored vehicles went with the school. Because of this change, the museum was renamed again. It became the 'General George Patton Museum of Leadership'.
What is the Museum's Mission Today?
Since 2012, the museum's main job has been to train future Army officers. It uses the stories and personal items of General George S. Patton Jr. and his son, George S. Patton IV, to teach valuable lessons about leadership. It works closely with the Army's ROTC and JROTC programs, which are also based at Fort Knox.
Visiting the Museum
Entry to the museum is free. It is open to the public from Tuesday to Saturday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time. The museum is closed on federal holidays.
You can visit the museum directly from Highway 31W. You do not need to enter the main part of the Fort Knox military base to get to it.
What Can You See at the Museum?
The museum has a collection of over 3,000 items. More than 600 of these belonged to General Patton and his family.
General Patton's Personal Items
Some of the most famous items you can see are:
- Patton's Pistols: His well-known ivory-handled pistols, a Colt Single Action Army .45 and a Smith & Wesson .357.
- Command Van: The special van he used as his living quarters during World War II.
- Touring Car: His 1938 Cadillac car.
The museum also displays weapons and gear from Patton's time in the Mexican Punitive Expedition, World War I, and World War II. You can also see items from his son's service in the Korean and Vietnam Wars.
From the Movies
The museum has props from the 1970 movie Patton. You can see the prop pistols used by the actor George C. Scott. The helmet he wore in the movie's famous opening speech is also on display.
Tanks and Military Vehicles
While many tanks moved to Fort Benning, several impressive vehicles remain. These are used to teach leadership lessons to young officers. Some of the vehicles on display include:
- An M10 tank destroyer
- An M7 Priest (a type of mobile artillery)
- Two types of Sherman Tanks
- A UH-1D "Huey" Helicopter
- A German StuG III armored vehicle, which was found in a Russian swamp in 1995.
Another unique exhibit is "FOAM161," a fire truck from the Fort Myer Fire Department. It was damaged during the September 11th Attacks on the Pentagon.
A World War II Barracks
In 2012, one of the last remaining World War II barracks on Fort Knox was moved to the museum grounds. It was carefully restored and opened to the public in 2021.
The two-story wooden building shows what life was like for soldiers. It was built around 1940 and could house a 63-man platoon. The entire first floor is open for visitors. You can see how soldiers lived and see displays about life at Fort Knox from the 1940s to the 1970s.
See also
- George S. Patton Jr.
- George S. Patton IV
- Patton Monument (West Point)
- General George S. Patton Memorial Museum, Chiriaco Summit, California
- United States Army Ordnance Museum
- List of attractions and events in the Louisville metropolitan area
