Building A Legacy: The New Patton Museum

As longtime supporters of the Patton Museum and members of the Armor community, your support has helped make the Patton Museum a wonderful place to visit. The original museum was officially dedicated on May 30th, 1949. The present building was constructed between 1972 and 1992, without cost to the US Government, by the Patton Museum Foundation, Inc. with funds donated by thousands of individuals and organizations from around the world.

Current museum galleries feature a variety of armored equipment and vehicles, weapons, art and other memorabilia, which chronologically present the development of the Armor branch from the beginning of mechanization to the present. The “Patton Gallery” contains many personal items used by General Patton throughout his life. Other historically significant vehicles and equipment are located in Keyes Park, adjacent to the Museum.

The Patton Museum serves as the focal point for historical training of all soldiers at Fort Knox. The museum is also a major attraction for visitors to Fort Knox, Kentucky and from surrounding states.

Now we want to share your legacy, and the legacy of soldiers everywhere, with the world.

In 2004, the Patton Museum Foundation took the first critical steps to modernize the Patton Museum. Foundation leaders and consultants have put their heads together to envision a museum that best tells the story of General George S. Patton, Army Values and Cavalry and Armor.

One goal is a museum that reaches out to all people, regardless of military background, and meets the expectations of visitors’ who are captivated by new technology. Americans hunger to connect with soldiers past and present—to thank them for their service and the freedoms we enjoy. The new museum will help forge that connection and provide an inspiring experience that families will talk about long after their trip to the museum is over.

The museum will honor the American Soldier, convey the remarkable heritage of Cavalry and Armor, promote Army Values and preserve the name of General George S. Patton, Jr. and his brand of audacious leadership. The museum will go beyond education and inspiration, helping each visitor to find their own brand of audacious leadership.

This issue of The Saber will give you a peek into what you can expect as we move forward together to make The Patton Museum a world class attraction.

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At A Glance:
The New General George Patton Museum

The new museum will include a diverse mix of guest experiences, including interactive exhibits, multimedia theatres, live demonstrations, simulators, outdoor activities, special events and thematically integrated dining and museum store shopping.

Plans Include:

• Museum Site, with over 80 acres of museum and outdoor experiences
• L’Audace Plaza, with reflecting pool and thematic sculpture
• Museum Building, with the Arm of Decision signature building entrance
• Leadership Lobby, a place to welcome veterans, soldiers and visitors
• Victory Parade, where visitors march into the museum experience
• Traditions in Leadership, an interactive immersion experience featuring the history of the Patton family
• Cavalry Traditions, a stable and paddock
• Leadership through Innovation, a hands-on, climb-in introduction to tanks
• Innovation Range Area, an outdoor action space to experience military vehicles
• Amphitheater of Operations, a large demonstration and re-enactment area
• The Patton Theater, featuring a documentary on the Man, his Moment and Legacy
• Preparation for Leadership, a high-tech tank simulation training center
• Leadership under Fire, a battle-intense media immersion and experience
• Hall of Heroes, the central plaza of the museum for gatherings and events
• Thank a Soldier Rotunda, a place to honor service
• Red Ball Express Restaurant, enjoy a meal and learn about logistics and feeding an army
• Leadership Shop Museum Store, take home a memory of audacious leadership

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Audacious Design

You’ll first catch a glimpse of the stunning new General George Patton Museum from the highway. Once you exit, the public highway entrance to the museum complex is a striking portal that leads to a drive past the building entrance, winds around for a glimpse of the Amphitheater of Operations and ends in an attractively landscaped parking area. A second entrance for on-post access provides parking near the present museum.

The monuments in Monument Park will be relocated to the entrance plaza, set among the walkways, pool and landscape features, and beneath a large American flag. The new location ensures all visitors will see the monuments and have an opportunity to appreciate their symbolism.

Visitors walking from the parking area through the arrival plaza will be greeted by a welcoming monument that identifies “The General George Patton Museum.” A wide path guides visitors past rolling landscaped berms, quotes from Patton and finally to a reflecting pool that amplifies the iconic structure.

The 80 plus acre site will provide ample space for outdoor exhibits, monuments, gardens, and events, including large areas for military re-enactments and festivals.

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Telling the Story

General Patton’s audacious leadership is the starting point for the museum experience.

Although General Patton made his mark on the world over 60 years ago, his spirit energizes America’s armor and cavalry soldiers today. Combat commanders continue to use his image to inspire their men to accomplish extraordinary things. Not only does Patton’s passion and clarity of purpose resonate among contemporary warriors, it is widely articulated in all areas of public discourse.

General Patton was unique in his careful use of drama and psychology to motivate his troops and intimidate his enemies. He taught all Americans that bold action, preceded by thorough planning, achieves rapid victory and saves lives. In the new museum, our visitors will have the opportunity to see his audacious spirit alive in America’s modern tanker and thoughtfully discover the applicability of his lessons to their own circumstances.

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The New Patton Museum Will:

• Honor the American Soldier
• Explore the legacy of Genera George S. Patton, Jr.
• Inspire Audacious Leadership
• Promote Army Values
• Celebrate the people, stories, and traditions of Cavalry and Armor
• Complement training
• Create a flexible museum infrastructure that allows for growth and evolution
• Increase attendance and generate revenue for sustaining the museum

Our focus on General Patton will include his military career and family life. Visitors will see how a lifetime of preparation made his success possible and how he continues to influence current military operations. Patton’s brand of audacious leadership has application to every profession. Visitors will also learn about Patton’s personal life—the influence of his family, his education, his avocations, his faith and his earthy, pragmatic sophistication. Our exhibits about Cavalry and Armor will show the progression from horses to modern tanks.

The exhibits will communicate the unique traditions of cavalry, technological innovations, and the people that serve our country. Visitors will see that heavy armor—Renault, Sherman, and Abrams—represent the evolution of armor. They will learn that Armor uses fire, maneuver and shock effect. They will understand that armor is high-tech and critical to our national security.

Our exploration of Army Values will show how the American Soldier serves with honor and purpose. The audacious mounted soldier extols Army values and teamwork. This message will highlight the honored role of America’s soldiers in our history.

Museum visitors will also learn how the threads of leadership are woven into the fabric of everyday life at home and on the job. They will also gain a greater understanding about the organization and application of battlefield operating systems. For those with a technical bent, the science and math of armor and its sophisticated technology will be especially intriguing.

The General George Patton Museum will set a new standard for military museums and provide an invaluable resource for future generations of Americans. Just as the Army has incorporated new practices and technology into its training, such as tank simulators, the new museum will incorporate state-of-the-art museum and presentation techniques to educate soldiers and inspire audacious leadership.

The Patton Museum has primarily served as a training tool for the Armor School at Fort Knox. As this role evolves, the museum has an opportunity to expand its mission. The new museum will continue to celebrate and serve the needs of the active duty soldier, but it will also reach out to a much larger and broader audience with powerful messages of tremendous relevance for our society in the Twenty-First Century.

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