Fort Campbell, KY. – (CLARKSVILLENOW) The Don F. Pratt Museum at Fort Campbell held a ribbon cutting and grand reopening Wednesday. The museum closed in June of 2016 for needed renovations and moved temporarily to nearby Dreyer Field House.
The museum offers a history of the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) featuring military displays, a reference library and archives, guided and unguided tours, historical films, lectures, educational programs and a gift shop. Among the many displays is a fully restored WWII glider.
The focus of the museum is on the 101st but there are also displays on other historic units that have served at Fort Campbell such as current tenant units, the 5th Special Forces Group and 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment. An outdoor area across from the museum displays various military aircraft and equipment used by the division.
Charles Bowery, Executive Director of the Center for Military History and a retired 101st veteran, spoke at the event and said it is the oldest division museum in the Army dating back to 1956 and it had not been renovated since 1974.
Brigadier General Todd Royar, Acting Senior Commander of the 101st talked about the history of the division and said, “being able to celebrate our history with this museum helps us inspire those that serve today,” said Royer.
Dr. John O’Brien, Director of the Don F. Pratt Museum and a 101st veteran, said the museum preserves the history, heritage and values of the great units that have served at Fort Campbell and we have been fortunate with all the assistance we have gotten to offer a facility that does that.
O’Brien added, “The purpose of this facility is not to worship the ashes of the past but to kindle the fire of the future by the achievements of these men and women who have come before us and inspire us.” said O’Brien.
The Fort Campbell Historical Foundation is also moving forward with their plans for construction of the “Wings of Liberty Military Museum” to be located at the intersection of Fort Campbell Blvd. and Tiny Town Rd. with completion of the project expected within the next three to five years.
The Don F. Pratt Museum is located at 5702 Tennessee Avenue on Fort Campbell and is open to the public Tuesday-Saturday from 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. and admission is free. For more information or to schedule tours or briefings call 270-798-3215.