Plan Your Visit

HOURS: 

9:00am – 4:30pm — Tuesday thru Saturday

ADMISSION:

Admission to the museum is always free and open to the public. If you’d like to contribute, donations can be dropped in our donation box in the lobby. You can also donate online by clicking here.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Q:  I visited the museum over 12 years ago and there were way more tanks – what happened? WHO DID THIS? HOW COULD YOU LET THIS HAPPEN?? HOW DARE YOU!!!

A: First of all, lighten up Francis. The museum staff get this question almost daily and often are accused of somehow being personally involved in this decision (our curator was a 2nd Lieutenant at the time!). A little over ten years ago, the US Army Armor Center and School moved from Fort Knox to Fort Benning (Now Fort Moore), Georgia. This decision was made at the highest levels of the US Government and the Defense Department. Because official US Army Museums exist primarily to support the training of Soldiers, the majority of armor artifacts moved with the Armor School where they continue to train the next generation of tankers. The Patton Museum took on the mission of Leadership Education for the thousands of Senior ROTC Cadets attending training each year at Fort Knox. Our museum continues to use vehicles in our exhibits to teach leadership. The Armor and Cavalry Collection is in good hands and continues to grow with vehicles being moved from other Army Museums. While not normally open to public, the US Army Armor and Cavalry Collection hosts several open house days per year. Information about these open house days and the collection can be found here:

(4) The U.S. Army Armor & Cavalry Collection | Fort Benning GA | Facebook

Q: Where is the King Tiger / Royal Tiger / Tiger II / “Big German Tank I saw in 1998”?

A: It’s safe in the US Army Armor and Cavalry Collection – see link above.

Q: How do I get to the museum? My GPS took me on to Fort Knox and now I’m at a closed gate.

A: If you’re at the closed gate on Fayette Ave there is a sign on the gate telling you how to get to the museum. After over two years of trying to contact Apple Maps and Waze, only Google Maps updated their GPS to the new museum gate located on US 31W.  If you have a direct line to someone at Apple or Waze to get our GPS directions updated, please help us.

Link to Google Maps:

https://goo.gl/maps/NcQ7hFxsaFzNUzf59

Q: Was General Patton murdered or assassinated?

A: No, his car accident in 1945 had far too many unplanned stops to be anything other than an accident that resulted in General Patton’s injury. Patton’s accidental death at the height of his fame is no different than many other celebrities who died at the height of their fame – it continues to draw conspiracy theories and sell publications.

Q: My ancestor served with General Patton, can you look up their records?

A: The museum does not own or have access to individual service records.  Contact the National Personnel Records Center at National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) | National Archives    Also – when Soldiers from World War II were discharged, they were often given an extra copy of their discharge paperwork to put on file with their County clerk. Try contacting the County Clerk of the County the veteran resided in when discharged, this may be easier than requesting the file from the NPRC listed above.

Q: I’m doing research on General Patton and need access to your archives.

A: Due to limited museum staff, our archives are generally closed to outside research. The majority of our Patton-related paperwork is manuals and certificates owned by the General.  Patton’s complete military personnel file can be viewed / downloaded from the National Archives here:

National Archives NextGen Catalog

General Patton’s papers and diaries are held by the Library of Congress, some of the papers are digital:

George S. Patton Papers: Diaries, 1910 to 1945, Available Online | Library of Congress (loc.gov)         

Q: Do you appraise or authenticate artifacts?

A: The museum staff will not appraise any items. The staff is happy to collaborate with our peers at other museums about artifacts, but we do not authenticate items for private or commercial entities – ie we won’t certify that it’s really General Patton’s toothpick holder so it does better at the next “Questionable Collectables” auction.   

Q: I have potential artifact(s) I’d like to donate, how do I do that?

A: Army Museums are fairly selective in artifacts they agree to take as donations due to limited storage space and having multiple examples already in the museum system. The first step is always sending photos and a description to info@generalpatton.org   DO NOT SEND ITEMS DIRECTLY TO THE MUSEUM WITHOUT PRIOR STAFF PERMISSION. ITEMS RECEIVED WITHOUT NOTICE WILL BE RETURNED TO SENDER OR MAY BE DISPOSED OF IF THE SENDER CANNOT BE REACHED. Seriously, don’t. We lose half a day re-packing it and it costs taxpayer money to ship it back. Send a photo via email first.   

Q: Do you take loans for exhibit?

A: Only in very rare circumstances. Sending a photo and description of the item to info@generalpatton.org is the first step.