General Patton Memorial Museum

What started in the early 1980’s with a single modular building has morphed over time with the relocation of the former Coachella DMV building and donated land.  By 1986, an additional 7,000 square feet of buildings were added and 1987 saw construction begin on what now resides the permanent General Patton Memorial Museum at the Chiriaco Summit. 

The specific location and name were chosen in honor of the General that hand picked the very site  prior to World War II as headquarters for the Desert Training Center (DTC).  The DTC was home to over 1 million soldiers as they trained for WWII combat and at its peak was the largest facility of its kind, both in population and size.

On the current site, that was officially opened on General Patton’s 100th birthday, November 11, 1988, there stands a massive 8,000 plus square foot museum paying homage to the war efforts and the history of the DTC with countless Korean War, WWII and Patton artifacts, memorabilia and full size displays including an M4 Sherman Tank.  The adjacent Matzner Tank Pavilion can be visited as well and houses dozens of war used tanks and vehicles.