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 special museum located at Fort Knox, Kentucky. It teaches visitors about the life and important lessons of General George S. Patton, Jr.. The museum also helps train young leaders in the U.S. Army, especially those in the Army Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC). It is managed by the U.S. Army Cadet Command.
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Museum History: From Tanks to Leadership
The museum first started during World War II. General Patton's Third United States Army sent many captured enemy vehicles and equipment to Fort Knox. These items were studied there. After General Patton passed away in 1945, many of his personal military items began to gather at Fort Knox. This led to the creation of 'The Patton Museum' in 1948. It is one of the oldest continuously running Army museums.
The museum's collection later moved to a new, larger building in 1972. It was then renamed the 'Patton Museum of Cavalry and Armor'. In 1992, the museum was improved. These upgrades were paid for by a private group, not by the U.S. Government.
In 2010, the Army's Armor School moved from Fort Knox to Fort Benning. Many of the museum's large collection of armored vehicles moved with the school. These vehicles are now part of the U.S. Army Armor and Cavalry Collection. Because of this big change, the museum's mission also changed. It was renamed the 'General George Patton Museum of Leadership'. Its new focus is on training young Army officers. It especially helps those in the Army's ROTC programs. The museum uses the legacy and personal items of General George S. Patton Jr. and his son, George S. Patton IV. It continues to train future and current Army leaders.
Visiting the Museum
The museum is free to enter and open to everyone. You can visit Tuesday through Saturday, from 9 AM to 4:30 PM (Eastern Standard Time). It is closed on federal holidays. Since 2021, you can reach the museum directly from Highway 31W. You do not need to enter the main military base to visit.
Museum Exhibits: What You Can See
The museum has over 3,000 items in its collection. More than 600 of these belonged to General Patton and his family. You can see General Patton's famous ivory-handled pistols. These include a Colt Single Action Army .45 and a Smith & Wesson .357. You can also see his custom-built World War II living quarters van. His 1938 Cadillac touring car is also on display.
The museum also features many captured enemy weapons and equipment. These are from Patton's time in the Mexican Punitive Expedition, World War One, and World War Two. There are also items from his son, George S. Patton IV's service in the Korean and Vietnam Wars.
You can even see some props from the 1970 movie Patton. These include the prop pistols and parade helmet used by actor George C. Scott in the film's famous opening scene.
Before 2012, the museum was known for its large collection of tanks. Many of these tanks moved with the Armor school. However, several tanks and unique armored vehicles are still on display. These include an M10 Tank Destroyer, an M7 Priest, and "Firefly" Sherman Tanks. You can also see a UH-1D "Huey" Helicopter. A German StuG III armored vehicle, found in a Russian swamp in 1995, is also there. These vehicles help teach lessons about leadership to young officers. An E-One fire truck, "FOAM161," from the Fort Myer Fire Department is also on exhibit. This truck was damaged during the September 11th Attacks.
In 2012, one of the last remaining World War II barracks buildings at Fort Knox was moved to the museum grounds. It was carefully restored using donated money. The barracks opened to the public in May 2021. This two-story wooden building was built around 1940. It used to house 63 soldiers and had separate living areas for non-commissioned officers (NCOs). The entire first floor is open to visitors. It shows what life was like 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
