Patton Museum BRAC FAQs

WHAT IS HAPPENING TO THE MUSEUM?
Just like Fort Knox, the museum is transforming and here to stay. The current Patton Museum of Cavalry and Armor will divide, with The National Armor and Cavalry Museum moving to Fort Benning. The remaining part of the Patton Museum will stay at Fort Knox and operate for now under the name The General George Patton Museum.

The General George Patton Museum's bright future was solidified during the BRAC process by the dedicated leadership at all echelons who value the history this museum tells about this Kentucky post and our Army.

As it has for the last 60 years, the General George Patton Museum will remain a first-rate place for military enthusiasts, tourists and children to learn more about our Army and its Soldiers.

The new and unique exhibits will continue the General George Patton Museum's standing as a staple tourist destination in the Commonwealth.

The meticulous planning and execution of changes at the museum will take three to four years to complete because of our aspiration to deliver a first-rate museum that will continue to be the No. 1 most visited U.S. Army museum in the world.

WHAT ARTIFACTS WILL BE ON DISPLAY? WILL I STILL BE ABLE TO SEE TANKS?
The prominent artifact collection of legendary Army general and museum namesake, General George S. Patton Jr., is and will continue to be a hallmark for the 45,000 square foot facility.

Because of our commitment to telling the entire story of Fort Knox, the General George Patton Museum will still house some American battle tanks.

Once the General George Patton Museum's transformation is complete, visitors will take a walk through time, from 1775 to present day, and see the leadership, sacrifice and duty of our Soldiers which led to our successes and the strong military institution we continue to be today.

The histories of Fort Knox's unique organizations will be represented in the museum to allow both the organizations' personnel and tourists alike to gain an appreciation for how this installation's missions contribute to our Army's success.

WHAT TIMEFRAME WILL THESE CHANGES HAPPEN?
The General George Patton Museum will be closed and/or partially open for a series of months as we renovate the museum and change exhibits. While our goal is to make the changes as quickly as possible, we must also remember that we owe it to our visitors to present them with an experience they will value and enjoy.

A grand reopening will likely occur in 2013 or 2014, but most of the museum will remain open for visitors to enjoy in the meantime.

TO all interested Patrons of the
PATTON MUSEUM or CAVALRY & ARMOR
Base Realignment And Closure up-date:

Under the BRAC Law of 2005, The United States Armor School is directed to relocate to Fort Benning GA, NTL Sept 2011.

As part of this directive, the United State Army's Patton Museum of Cavalry & Armor will prepare the armor/cavalry component of the collection for movement to Fort Benning GA, in order to remain with the Armor School, and will be renamed as the National Armor & Cavalry Museum. The mission of NACM will remain the same as the current armor museum: to preserve the armor heritage, lineage and collection for the students of the Art of War. The armor element of the collection consists of roughly 85% of the current collection.

The remaining element of the collection (15%), that will remain at Fort Knox, KY, will be renamed as the General George Patton Museum and will have a new mission, new storyline and new collection focus. The Patton collection will become the core for this new museum and will take full control of the building in Sept. 2011.

Effective 7 Sept. 2010, the Patton Museum of Cavalry & Armor component of the collection will be closed off, in order prepare that part of the collection for shipment to Fort Benning. Current planning is that upon that date, the Patton Gallery will remain open to the public as will the auditorium and Gift Shop.


Donations:
NACM is supported through donations to:
National Armor & Cavalry Heritage Foundation:
924 2nd Avenue
Columbus, GA 31901
www.armorcavalrymuseum.org

GGPM is supported through donations to:
Patton Museum Foundation
P.O. Box 25
Fort Knox, KY 40121
www.generalpatton.org


All Donations in the museum's donation box are collected by the Patton Museum Foundation