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Preserving the rich history of the military of the "Fighting Sixth" Cavalry is the purpose for this museum.  The Fighting Sixth was stations at Fort Oglethorpe from 1919 - 1942.  The unit was started in 1861 and served a long and honorable period of service.

Established in Pittsburgh, PA fighting in the Civil War this group of men was involved in the battle at Williamsburg in 1862 and during the Battle of Gettysburg at Fairfield.  The 6th received 16 battle streamers in honor of their efforts during these battles and three of the members received the Medal of Honor.

At the end of the Civil War the 6th fought the Indian Wars and it was one of their members, Lt. Charles Gatewood who convinced Geronimo to surrender and return to the reservation, ending a year of murder and terror on the plains.

The fought side-by-side with Teddy Roosevelt and the Rough Riders during the Spanish-American War in 1898 in Cuba.  They also fought in the Boxer Rebellion, Philippines, Mexican Punitive Exhibition and Yellowstone National Park.

When they were preparing for front line combat during WWI the Armistice as signed.  Following this they were permanently stationed at the Post at Fort Oglethorpe.

At the Fort they engaged in competitive polo, military horse tournaments, team sports competition, parades and troop reviews and little actual need for battles.  The training year closed with marches or maneuvers to Alabama, Tennessee and South Carolina.

In 1933 they furnished officers and men to organize and instruct the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) even though the civilians received more pay than the soldiers of the time.

With the changing times and modernization of equipment the 6th Cavalry landed in Northern Ireland without any horses during WWII.

After WWII the Post at Ft. Oglethorpe was determined to be too small for military use (remember it had been designed and used for horses) and the buildings and property were sold to private citizens.  The City of Fort Oglethorpe was officially incorporated in 1949, the first new town in Georgia in 25 years.

Then in 1957, the 6th Armored Cavalry was stationed at Fort Knox, Kentucky until its deactivation in 1962. The 6th was reactivated in 1967 as the 6th ACR (Armored Cavalry Regiment) at Fort Meade, MD, Maryland. In 1973, the 6 th Cavalry was assigned to the 1 st Cavalry Division and activated at Fort Hood, Texas. In 1996, 6 th Cavalry Brigade Headquarters moved its flag to Fort Humphreys, Korea. This move created a unique organization that provides the Commander in Chief, United Nations Command, Combined Forces Command and the U.S. Forces Korea with critical force protection assets, as well as, lethal deep strike capability.

Location: 6th Cavalry Museum
P.O.Box 2011
Ft. Oglethorpe, GA 30742

Phone: (706) 861-2860

Email: info@6thcavalrymuseum.com

Hours: Open Tuesday - Saturday 9 am - noon and 1 pm - 4

Admission: Adults $3, Students/seniors $2, Children under 5 FREE.  Family pass $10.

Directions:  Located on Bernhardt Circle in Fort Oglethorpe, one block north of the Chickamauga National Battlefield Park.  On Highway 27 - Lafayette Road turn onto Harker ST. at Fort Oglethorpe Presbyterian Church (which was the original Post Chapel), and the museum will be on the left of the Performance Learning Center.
 

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