The 4th Infantry Division Museum outside Fort Carson's gate 1 is slated for closure as the Army Museum Enterprise shutters museums nationally.
The enterprise is expected to close museums at other bases, including Fort Bliss in Texas, Fort Knox in Kentucky and Fort Drum in New York, among others according to a list obtained by Task and Purpose.
F. Lee Reynolds, a spokesman for the U.S. Army Center of Military History, said the decision to close and consolidate museums was driven by staffing limitations, visitor engagement and facility maintenance. The staffing shortage and maintenance backlog present a risk to caring for the overall collection, one of the world's largest, the Army Museum Enterprise said in a news release.
The base's history fills in one small piece of the 250 years of Army history the country is honoring today and some of the most pivotal for the region.
"The goal is to ensure that the Army’s historical resources remain accessible, well-maintained, and effectively serve both soldiers and the public," he said.
Reynolds said artifacts at the museums will be preserved and integrated into other museums or stored in the Army Museum Support Centers.
The Fort Carson museum explores the early history of the installation when it was set up in 1942 and the history of the 4th Infantry Division, currently stationed at the base. The 4th Infantry Division was the first unit to land on Utah Beach and fought in other major World War II battles. The division also served in Vietnam and in the War on Terrorism.
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The museum also proudly displays the a 92-pound silver punch bowl that the 9th Infantry Regiment received as a gift for guarding a mint in China in 1900 during a rebellion.
Reynolds said efforts are underway to explore partnerships to help communities interact with Army history amid the closures.
"We recognize the concerns this decision has generated and remain committed to honoring the Army’s legacy," he said.
The agency expects the closures will be approved in the next few weeks, Reynolds said. The museums selected for closure will shut their doors to the public by September 2027. The overall downsizing process is expected to last through 2029.
The Fort Carson museum is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays.
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