A seven-month long project began outside Fort Knox's Patton Museum during the first week in November that, when complete, will allow visitors faster and more direct museum access.
The Patton Museum is already conveniently located just off of a main Kentucky thoroughfare that runs through the installation--U.S. 31W (Dixie Highway)--but has been fenced off in recent years due to security requirements.
All museum visitors today must go through one of Fort Knox's three primary entrance gates to eventually access the museum. And if those visitors have no military affiliation and do not already possess a Fort Knox Automated Installation Entry pass, they must first go to the Visitor Center near the Chaffee (main) Gate before being allowed on post. The result is a wait time that may deter people from visiting a museum that underwent a $5 million renovation three years ago, uses augmented reality to teach lessons in Army leadership and houses the largest artifact collection of famed U.S. Army leader Gen. George S. Patton Jr.
However, by late spring 2017, Fort Knox Public Works Director Pat Walsh said he believes all necessary work, which largely entails constructing a new installation security fence line behind the museum and enhanced security in the museum, will be completed and allow visitors to access the museum directly from Dixie Highway.
U.S. Army Cadet Command and Fort Knox Commander Maj. Gen. Chris Hughes led the initial discussions on post about making the change while maintaining security. Fort Knox Directorate of Emergency Services, DPW and Directorate of Plans, Training, Mobilization and Security officials came up with a plan, and Hughes officially announced the project during his remarks at the Hardin County Chamber of Commerce luncheon in Elizabethtown Nov. 9. He mentioned that he believed the improved access would result in more museum goers and likely propagate greater area tourism.
"Contract workers are currently removing some existing fencing and turnstiles that are already not needed out there today," said Mark Richerson, chief of DPW's Engineering & Services Division.
"That work should be completed within the next few weeks and then we'll move on to other necessary steps."
Some of the major steps, Walsh said, include installing such appropriate security measures as a new boundary fence line, adding lighting to the parking lot and walkway to the museum and resurfacing the museum parking lot.
When finished, all visitors will once again have convenient access to the Patton Museum. Museum hours are Tuesday-Friday 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m., and closed Sunday, Monday and Dec. 19-Jan. 2.
Social Sharing