November 1, 2012. Reconstruction of the museum’s interior spaces shows an M4A3E8 Sherman tank that will be the centerpiece of a Pusan Perimeter exhibit also scheduled to open in mid-2013.
The Army’s Patton Museum is on track for full reopening in mid-June 2013. This is more than converting the facility from the former armor-cavalry museum to a new theme of Army leadership since 1775. It is literally building a new museum from scratch. A major step in the project is nearing an end – building over 400 feet of interior walls for the new galleries in the museum’s 33,000 square feet of display space.
September 28, 2012. Ft. Myer Fire Department Foam Truck 161 arriving at the Patton Museum’s maintenance shop. This truck was stationed at the Pentagon on the morning of September 11, 2001 and sustained heavy damage from the fire that followed the crash of American Airlines Flight 77.
Hundreds of new artifacts are inbound or under preparation, with all new cases, panels and several full-size dioramas. The museum will also incorporate new augmented reality technology enabling visitors to experience the sights and sounds of many artifacts, along with access to in-depth information and newly discovered archival footage of General Patton. Some items from the Patton collection that haven’t been on display for years (if ever) will go into new state of the art cases. Another major exhibit will center on Patton’s fully-restored WWII GMC office/sleeping truck. The museum will also house the fire truck on duty at the Pentagon when it was attacked on 9-11.
However, there are several key dates you need to know about besides the planned June 14, 2013 full reopening date.
Effective November 1, 2012, the museum is closed Sundays and it will also close during the week between Christmas and New Year’s (December 23, 2012 to January 2, 2013).
Because the staff must carefully preserve the Patton collection before it is placed in new cases in the new galleries, effective at the close of business November 24, 2012, the Patton Gallery will be closed to the public. Unfortunately this closure is necessary, and it will disappoint some, but the results will be worth the effort – state of the art preservation in the newest cases.
Weekday Hours:
9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. EST
Tuesday – Friday
Closed Mondays (and Sundays after November 1)
Keep in mind that there are only two official websites for the Army’s Patton Museum: generalpatton.org for the latest information on the museum’s status and future direction, and www.knox.army.mil/PattonMuseum/index.htm for a smaller-scope site on the Army’s fort Knox web page.
Just a crying shame that they moved almost every piece of the equipment to Ft. Benning that was once seen at this museum. I’ve not talked to anyone about where or how the equipment is stored or displayed at Benning. I’ve heard that a new museum is being constructed, but that all of the vehicles are sitting in a storage yard, exposed to the elements. If true, thats just a shame. I know a fabriquator that worked to restore a fair number of items in the old Patton Museum. I wonder where all of the old WWII reports that were once stored at Ft. Knox, and accessable for research, have gone to?
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Just a crying shame that they moved almost every piece of the equipment to Ft. Benning that was once seen at this museum. I’ve not talked to anyone about where or how the equipment is stored or displayed at Benning. I’ve heard that a new museum is being constructed, but that all of the vehicles are sitting in a storage yard, exposed to the elements. If true, thats just a shame. I know a fabriquator that worked to restore a fair number of items in the old Patton Museum. I wonder where all of the old WWII reports that were once stored at Ft. Knox, and accessable for research, have gone to?