The General George Patton Museum of Leadership is undergoing a modernization process that will allow for more noticeable changes in the future.
"Our building dates from 1972. There have been minor renovations along the way, but much of the infrastructure needs a major update," said Alice Hart, director of the museum.
Among the updates she listed is a new roof, new heating ventilation and air conditioning system -- all of which are essential to the climate control needed to preserve the artifacts. Hart said other improvements are geared toward those who visit.
"The new walkway and entryway improve our visitor comfort, allowing [them] to come from the parking lot sheltered from adverse weather," Hart said. "Much of the work, inside and out, is to improve the experience for all visitors but especially those with disabilities, many of whom are our aging and disabled veterans."
Many areas will be focused on handicap accessibility and aesthetic. For instance, the bathrooms have been upgraded to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act as are the new walkway and entryway.
"The bathrooms are much more user-friendly because they are handicap accessible," Hart said. "Because the bathrooms have been upgraded, they are more appealingly, too. There had been little done to them since the building's inception in the '70s."
Hart maintains that despite all the upgrades, the mainstay of the Patton Museum is the man himself.
"The highlight of our museum has always been the artifacts given to us by the Patton family. From the time he was a child, Patton felt that he would be great, and he kept and archived many of his things," Hart explained. "We have everything from his childhood toys to the flag that draped the casket at his death."
Much of the memorabilia that the general is famous for is kept at Fort Knox.
"We have those iconic pieces that people recognize as distinctly Patton -- from his ivory handled pistols, to his trademark bomber jacket, from the uniform stuffs he wore while competing in 1912 Olympic decathlon, to the Patton sword that he designed for Soldiers of his beloved horse cavalry, and even the custom Cadillac in which he had that fateful accident that hospitalized him 12 days before his death," she said.
Hart said it is Patton's passion rather than his past possessions that really draws visitors to the museum.
"Patton was compelling. He cultivated a persona solely to inspire esprit de corps in his men to fight and win," Hart explained. "He would even practice faces, poses and voice [intonation] to motivate his men."
According to Hart, Patton was largely responsible for transitioning the American Army from horse cavalry to mechanized tanks. He revolutionized tank tactics to overwhelm the enemy with speed and power in blitz-like moves that covered huge distances.
A strict disciplinarian, Patton was not always loved, but his insistence to lead from the front and to endure hardships with his men won him respect, she said.
"Some loved him and some hated him, but they'd do anything for him because they knew that he'd get the job done. They trusted that the 'Old Man' knew what he was doing," she said. "He was driven; that was his singular characteristic."
Jodi Witt, museum educator, said she feels that there are lessons from his imperfections, too.
"We use his challenges as leadership lessons, as well," Witt said. "He was very persistent, and nothing stopped him. Regardless of the situation that he found himself in, he dealt with the consequences, and he kept on."
Hart said Patton dealt with some of the same challenges in his day that leaders deal with in today's Army.
"We can talk about emotional intelligence, leadership dilemma, character flaws and how to overcome them; we can talk the importance of resistance and teamwork," Hart said. "That's what we draw out here. It's these bigger lessons of audacity, and persistence, his strains of brilliance and his failures. Nothing is wasted."
Hart said they are establishing new programs at the museum to garner a new audience that might have always been there but were never addressed directly.
"'Walk with Willie' will be the Patton Museum's new educational trail for children who follow the paw prints of Patton's dog, Willie, to interesting historical events throughout the museum and teaches children about Patton from his dog's perspective," Witt said. "We want something for everyone. We are tying this whole experience -- Patton from the cradle to the grave -- into a sensory learning experience incorporating visual, auditory and tactile for every visitor."
While the updated facility is expected to provide a more comfortable experience, Hart and Witt agree that the leadership lessons learned at the museum require no upgrade.
"People still value clear and strong leadership. He was a man of his times, but he was very much a universal figure whose [philosophy] transcends time." Hart said. "The recent improvements are groundwork for more to come but Patton lives on in his life's lesson. We don't just celebrate his life. He is still in the leadership business."
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