General George Patton Museum: Tracing the Life of "Old Blood & Guts"
The General George Patton Museum at Fort Knox, Kentucky, celebrates the life of General George S. Patton and traces the history of armored warfare from its start in World War I to the present day. Patton, nicknamed "Old Blood and Guts" by his own troops, was popularized with a younger generation through the film Patton, starring George C. Scott.
Just 45 minutes south of downtown Louisville, the Patton Museum is one of the largest museums run by the U.S. Army. The museum houses Patton's World War II vehicles, his office van and the touring car, a 1938 Cadillac staff car, in which Patton received his fatal injuries in 1945. It also showcases quite a few of the general's items of clothing and personal effects.
The museum oversees the General George Patton Leadership Institute, which helps develop leadership skills among middle school and high school students.
Patton was the descendant of a long line of military officers, going back to an American Revolutionary War general. Like his father and grandfather before him, Patton attended Virginia Military Institute, although he later transferred to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York.
When Patton was commissioned into cavalry in 1909, that still meant horses — not tanks. A few years later, with the U.S. entry into World War I, then-Captain Patton became the first officer assigned to the new U.S. Tank Corps. Patton helped organize the tank training school before during World War I.
Patton and Dwight D. Eisenhower, who would go on to become Allied Supreme Commander, developed the armor doctrine that would play should a large role in the Allied victory in World War II.
During World War II, Patton commanded tank troops in North Africa, pushing the Germans and Italians eastward. Patton commanded the U.S. Third Army during the D-Day Invasion at Normandy, and Patton's forces took part in the Battle of the Bulge. He died from injuries incurred during a car accident in December 1945, just months after the end of World War II.
Admission is always free. The museum is open weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. It opens an hour later on holidays and weekends. From May to September, the museum stays open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. All times are Eastern time.
Posted on Feb 7, 2011 by Bill Wolfe
