HISTORY OF THE MUSEUM

On May 8, 1985 (V•Day), a pyramid-shaped stone monument was

dedicated to the Desert Training Center (DTC) and General B.M. Young. It was erected by the Bureau of Land Management near the entrance to Camp Young to honor the memory of General George S. Patton Jr. and the more than one million men who trained at the Desert Training Center/California, Arizona Maneuver Area during World War II. Public attendance and the response were enthusiastic. There were many people who wanted more information and also a place to permanently house DTC artifacts, stories, and memories of our

brave Veterans.

From this event, the concept of building a museum honoring General George S. Patton Jr. and the men of the DTC were conceived. Two

women, Margit Chiriaco Rusche, a business owner, and Leslie M. Cone,

BLM Indio Area Manager formed a non-profit corporation and a Board of Directors in late 1985. Then began the hard work of fund-raising and soliciting donations to create the museum we have today .. Generous benefactors Joseph and Ruth Chiriaco donated the seven acres the museum sits on. Custom engraved memorial bricks were

offered for sale, providing start-up dollars for the museum's construction.

In the beginning, a small trailer housed artifacts and office space. State Senator Robert Presley helped procure an unused DMV portable office building in Coachella, which had been moved to the museum site. Krieger and Stewart Engineers, BLM, and Riverside County gave technical assistance and funding. Hundreds of others donated dollars and in-kind services to build the museum. One of the first exhibits was the Metropolitan Water District's Big Map. Built-in the 1920s to depict the 50,000 square miles of land surrounding the route of the proposed aqueduct; the 250,000 pieces were taken to Washington, D. C. will lobby Congress for the funds to build the aqueduct. Without the water from the aqueduct, Gen. Patton could not have located the DTC where he did. Admiral Sen Montoya and the SEABEES installed the rock wall, and White Water Rock & Supply donated the rocks. The cement was still drying when the ribbon was cut for the November 11, 1988, grand opening. It was General Patton's 103rd Birthday, and the museum had its first Veteran's Day Celebration, attended by more than 5000 guests, many of whom had trained at the Desert Training Center and served under General Patton during his World War II campaigns. The museum has expanded, tripling its original size in 2018 with the addition of the west wing and tank pavilion. Robert H. Ricciardi, architect, developed the concepts for the new Matzner Tank Pavilion, the Chandi West Wing. the Barker Foundation Library, Educational

Exhibits and the Ed Hastey Vehicle Park. The museum continues to grow and continues our mission of educate our students throughout the desert and southern California.

General Patton Memorial, Inc Board of Directors

Co-Founders: Margit F. Chiriaco Rusche, President

Leslie M. Cone, Secretary

  • Angus Smith, Vice President
  • Heather Garcia, Treasurer
  • Duane Young 
  • Carole Herrera
  • Elwin Herbert Hanna
  • Jeff Klicka
  • John Emerson
  • Mark Langhome
  • Sherri Langhome
  • Melanie Guith

Our Mission

The mission of the General Patton Memorial Museum is to promote peace by honoring the 

service and sacrifice of America’s veterans while educating the public on the legacy of General George S. Patton, Jr, the Desert Training Center, and World War II. 

"Preserving the Peace Through Lessons of the Past"

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