First Division Museum at Cantigny

First Division Museum at Cantigny We are a military history museum located in dedicated to the history of the
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"The Division respected Patton for his unquestioned battle brilliance [...] But they did not like him personally." - Gen...
08/29/2026

"The Division respected Patton for his unquestioned battle brilliance [...] But they did not like him personally." - General Clift Andrus, 1ID Artillery

George S. Patton remains one of the more debated figures of the Second World War. His battlefield record earned the respect of many soldiers. His methods and leadership style earned considerably less affection from others.

The First Infantry Division had a particularly complicated relationship with Patton. The division served under his command in Tunisia and Sicily in 1943, where two strong and very different approaches to leadership came into conflict. Join us next Thursday, as we examine what the division’s own soldiers and leaders thought of Patton—and how that relationship shaped the division’s memory of him.

Date with History
Thursday, September 3 | 6 pm
Visitors Center Theater
Free with paid parking
Advance registration is required. https://bit.ly/3UWsb80

"He had an absolute genius for making vast numbers of people dislike or even hate him." - Colonel Stanhope Mason, 1ID Ch...
08/26/2026

"He had an absolute genius for making vast numbers of people dislike or even hate him." - Colonel Stanhope Mason, 1ID Chief of Staff

George S. Patton remains one of the more debated figures of the Second World War. His battlefield record earned the respect of many soldiers. His methods and leadership style earned considerably less affection from others.

The First Infantry Division had a particularly complicated relationship with Patton. The division served under his command in Tunisia and Sicily in 1943, where two strong and very different command styles repeatedly came into conflict.

Join the First Division Museum on Thursday, September 3, at 6 pm, as we examine what the division’s own soldiers and leaders thought of Patton—and how that relationship shaped the division’s memory of him.

Date with History
Thursday, September 3 | 6 pm
Visitors Center Theater
Free with paid parking
Space is limited; advance registration is required.
https://bit.ly/3UWsb80

Joseph Dawson: From Omaha Beach to AachenJoseph Dawson’s service with the 1st Infantry Division took him from North Afri...
08/26/2026

Joseph Dawson: From Omaha Beach to Aachen
Joseph Dawson’s service with the 1st Infantry Division took him from North Africa and Sicily to the beaches of Normandy.

On June 6, 1944, Captain Dawson led Company G, 16th Infantry Regiment, onto Omaha Beach. After his men were pinned down, he led them up a narrow ravine and was one of the first officers to reach the top of the bluff, where he helped clear a German machine-gun position with an accurate gr***de toss. Wounded later that day, Dawson eventually returned to command.

He went on to lead his company through France, Belgium, and the Battle of Aachen, where his unit held against German counterattacks for 39 days and received the Presidential Unit Citation for defending Aachen.

For his actions at Omaha Beach, Dawson received the Distinguished Service Cross from General Dwight D. Eisenhower. In 1994, Dawson returned to Omaha Beach for the 50th anniversary of D-Day, where he introduced President Bill Clinton.

Fresh Paint in the Tank ParkThe First Division Museum is giving the tanks and armored vehicles in the Tank Park a fresh ...
08/24/2026

Fresh Paint in the Tank Park
The First Division Museum is giving the tanks and armored vehicles in the Tank Park a fresh coat of paint and some well-earned maintenance.

The work will take place in phases, so some vehicles may be temporarily roped off while others remain open for visitors to explore. As you make your way through the Tank Park, please watch for museum staff and equipment.

We appreciate your patience as we care for these historic vehicles and help preserve them for future generations.

📌 Group A, Phase 1 | 03 Aug – 28 Aug
M47 Patton
M46 Patton
M48 Patton

📌 Group B, Phase 2 | 31 Aug – 25 Sep
M551A1 Sheridan
M60 Patton
M113A 2 APC
M1 Abrams

📌 Group C, Phase 3 | 28 Sep – 23 Oct
M41A3 Walker Bulldog
M24 Chaffee
M5 Stuart
M1917

The history of the 1st Infantry Division comes alive through items donated by veterans and their families. For America's...
08/24/2026

The history of the 1st Infantry Division comes alive through items donated by veterans and their families. For America's 250, the First Division Museum is collecting 250 artifacts from the late-Cold War, Gulf War, Balkans, and Global War on Terror. Keep the Big Red One’s story alive—donate today by visiting the link here: https://bit.ly/4ucNGPo

By January 1945, heavy American casualties in the Hürtgen Forest and Battle of the Bulge led General D. Eisenhower to re...
08/22/2026

By January 1945, heavy American casualties in the Hürtgen Forest and Battle of the Bulge led General D. Eisenhower to reconsider its policy of segregating African American troops. Black soldiers were permitted to volunteer for infantry service at the front.

By February, 4,562 African American soldiers had formed 37 rifle platoons and joined units in combat. Some were noncommissioned officers who accepted reductions in rank to serve. One of those platoons was the 4th Rifle Platoon, assigned to Company B, 18th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division.

On March 18, 1945, the platoon joined an attack near Quirrenbach, Germany. The fighting was hard, but the German defenders withdrew that afternoon.

Regimental Officer Major Edward McGregor remembering the 4th rifle platoon’s action that day noted, “They simply helped Company G in its fight without orders from anyone and proved to be a very real help in disposing of at least 25 Germans. The battalion commander was much impressed with their initiative and fighting spirit.”

Captain of Company C, Richard Lindo, added, “What it proved to me is that color your skin didn’t mean a [darn] thing. Their actions were comparable to that of the other platoons in the Regiment and a source of deep pride to its members.”

The experience demonstrated what mattered in combat: training, discipline, and performance—not the color of a soldier’s skin. The service of these platoons was among the steps toward the full integration of the U.S. Armed Forces, which President Harry Truman ordered in 1948.

Veteran Internship OpportunityThe Cantigny Fall/Winter 2026 Veteran Internship Program offers honorably discharged veter...
08/21/2026

Veteran Internship Opportunity
The Cantigny Fall/Winter 2026 Veteran Internship Program offers honorably discharged veterans a paid, full-time opportunity to gain practical experience and prepare for the transition to civilian careers.

Program at a glance
• September 8–December 18, 2026
• $20 per hour
• 40 hours per week
• Cantigny, Wheaton

Interns will work on hands-on assignments, connect with mentors, strengthen job-readiness skills, and hear from professionals across a range of fields. There are also opportunities to meet fellow veterans and see some of the work happening behind the scenes at Cantigny.

Apply: https://bit.ly/410pHWS
Questions? [email protected]

Reminder: The First Division Museum is carrying out maintenance and repainting work on the tanks and other armored vehic...
08/20/2026

Reminder: The First Division Museum is carrying out maintenance and repainting work on the tanks and other armored vehicles in the Tank Park. The work will take place in phases. During this process, some vehicles may be temporarily roped off while others remain open to visitors.

As you move through the Tank Park, please be mindful of museum staff and equipment in the area. We appreciate your patience as we carry out this work to preserve these historic vehicles for future generations.

📌 Group A, Phase 1 | 03 Aug – 28 Aug
M47 Patton
M46 Patton
M48 Patton

📌 Group B, Phase 2 | 31 Aug – 25 Sep
M551A1 Sheridan
M60 Patton
M113A 2 APC
M1 Abrams

📌 Group C, Phase 3 | 28 Sep – 23 Oct
M41A3 Walker Bulldog
M24 Chaffee
M5 Stuart
M1917

The 5th Field Artillery and the Nuclear AgeDuring the Cold War, artillery units adapted to a new era of warfare. The 1st...
08/20/2026

The 5th Field Artillery and the Nuclear Age
During the Cold War, artillery units adapted to a new era of warfare. The 1st Battalion, 5th Field Artillery transitioned from the towed M114 155 mm howitzer to the truck-mounted M31 Honest John rocket.

The unguided rocket could reach targets about 15 miles away and could carry either conventional or nuclear warheads. Battery D trained with the system, using its mobility to quickly leave firing positions after launch—a practical approach when the enemy might answer with counter-battery fire.

Because the Honest John had no onboard guidance system, accuracy depended on careful preparation, precise calculations, and disciplined work by the artillery crew before the launch button was pressed. In other words, there was no computer to blame.

The 1st Battalion, 5th Field Artillery returned to conventional 105 mm howitzers in 1964.

Learn more about the history of Hamilton’s 5th Field Artillery in 250 Years at the First Division Museum.

The Women of Operation TorchOn November 8, 1942, Army nurses landed alongside soldiers of the 1st Infantry Division duri...
08/19/2026

The Women of Operation Torch

On November 8, 1942, Army nurses landed alongside soldiers of the 1st Infantry Division during Operation Torch in North Africa.

Near Arzew, Algeria, Lieutenant Ruth Haskell and other nurses of the 48th Surgical Hospital came ashore under artillery and sniper fire. Within hours, they had established a surgical hospital in an abandoned French garrison.

For the next two days, they treated wounded soldiers under difficult conditions, often with enemy fire coming into the building and rats running along the floor in plain sight. Haskell later recalled one young soldier asking for water. Supplies were limited, but she gave him what she could.

Sixty nurses landed with the Big Red One during Operation Torch. Seventeen would remain with the division for the rest of the war.

Their service was not separate from the fighting. They were there, doing the work required to care for the wounded when it mattered most.

Address

1S151 Winfield Road
Wheaton, IL
60189

Opening Hours

Tuesday 10am - 5pm
Wednesday 10am - 5pm
Thursday 10am - 5pm
Friday 10am - 5pm
Saturday 10am - 5pm
Sunday 10am - 5pm

Telephone

+16302608185

Website

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