Soldiers & Sailors Tabletop Gamers
10AM – 4PM
Welcome to the monthly game day for the Soldiers & Sailors Tabletop Gamers! We welcome interested gamers ages 10 and up of all experience levels (including none) who want to bring or just play historical board games and miniatures war games, in keeping with the museums mission. Game days will require you to pay standard museum admission, which is listed on the museums website: https://www.soldiersandsailorshall.org/museum/. HINT: The annual membership is very inexpensive! https://www.soldiersandsailorshall.org/donate/#membership.
For more information please contact Tim Neff: tim@soldiersandsailorshall.org
What is Tabletop Gaming?
Tabletop gaming is played on a table with physical pieces, as opposed to video/computer games. Tabletop gaming includes both board games with playing pieces (for example, Stratego) and miniature games. Miniature games use representative terrain game boards and miniature military figures.
Please click on the green “Tickets” button to register and pre-pay admission to attend.
Museum admission is free to the public from 10am to 4pm.
Spotlight On:
Dollar Bank
October 13, 2022 7PM
Free Virtual Event – Join us on Facebook or YouTube
Please note: You can use the links above to watch archived Spotlight On programs!
Did you know that Dollar Bank provided most of the funding for the construction of Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hall via the purchase of Allegheny County Bonds between 1906-1908? Founded in 1855, Dollar Bank is Pittsburgh’s oldest bank. The Dollar Bank Historical Collection contains handwritten bank ledgers from 1855 through the 1920s, as well as photographs, plat books, marketing materials and banking machines. This program will examine the history of Dollar Bank through the handwritten ledgers and highlight several U.S. service members and veterans from the Pittsburgh area.
Robert Presutti Bio:
Bob Presutti is the corporate archivist for Dollar Bank. Previously, he served as Curator of Archives and Manuscripts at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in history and a Master of Library and information science from the University of Pittsburgh and a Master of Business Administration degree from Duquesne University. He has worked in the archives field for over fifteen years.
Michael Kraus Bio:
A well-known Civil War historian, Kraus currently works as Curator/Historian for Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hall & Museum. His accomplishments include several historical consultant credits for major films, writing and narrating the documentary series Civil War Minutes and Civil War Life as well as authoring articles and books regarding the conflict. Michael also is an accomplished sculptor with an impressive resume of historically themed works in bronze.
Soldiers & Sailors Tabletop Gamers
10AM – 4PM
Welcome to the monthly game day for the Soldiers & Sailors Tabletop Gamers!
Join us this October for the 241st anniversary of the Siege of Yorktown, Virginia, the joint French-American victory (the French had a larger part in the victory) which led to the end of the American Revolution and our independence from Great Britain.
We welcome interested gamers ages 10 and up of all experience levels (including none) who want to bring or just play historical board games and miniatures war games, in keeping with the museums mission. Game days will require you to pay standard museum admission, which is listed on the museums website: https://www.soldiersandsailorshall.org/museum/. HINT: The annual membership is very inexpensive! https://www.soldiersandsailorshall.org/donate/#membership.
For more information please contact Tim Neff: tim@soldiersandsailorshall.org
What is Tabletop Gaming?
Tabletop gaming is played on a table with physical pieces, as opposed to video/computer games. Tabletop gaming includes both board games with playing pieces (for example, Stratego) and miniature games. Miniature games use representative terrain game boards and miniature military figures.
Please click on the green “Tickets” button to register and pre-pay admission to attend.
Join us in celebrating Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hall & Museum’s brush with classic cinematic horror at The Silence of the Lambs Night taking place on Friday, October 28th.
Doors open at 5:30PM to allow guests to take in The Silence of the Lambs replica cage in the grand ballroom as well as movie stills where the iconic escape scene was filmed. Take a selfie with our Hannibal and Clarice reenactors. Visit with The Silence of the Lambs’ metal fabricator, Joe Steinmetz, and see the original blueprints of the film’s actual cage. What’s believed to be the original cage rug from the movie will also be on display courtesy of Ruth Frantz.
The owner of the recently converted property that was used as Buffalo Bill’s House in The Silence of the Lambs will be present to share information about his property and inn.
Visit with vendors, browse spine-tingling wares, and enjoy spooky season music courtesy of DJ Crush.
Costumes are encouraged, however no full face masks or weapons of any kind are permitted. Forgot your costume? Face Paint Pittsburgh will be onsite offering free Halloween themed face painting and an artificial laceration station courtesy of their professional medical moulage artist.
For a nominal fee, have your tarot cards read, visit with psychic mediums, have your runes read or get a caricature drawn as your favorite Halloween character. Guests ages 18 and older can purchase themed The Silence of the Lambs and other spooky season inspired flash and tiny tattoos.
Victor Cianca, the Metropolitan Bishop of the Western Orthodox Church, Superior General of Society of Sancta Maria Magdalena (our monastic), and Protector and Chief Exorcist for the Society of Saint Michael, as well as all Churches under our Western Orthodox Umbrella, will be present to answer, explain and consult about hauntings, spirits, demons and angels. Victor has been on many cases and has a research team that consults him. He will be bringing Blessed Salt and Holy Water to give to people who would like it.
Watch an interactive movie themed pumpkin carving demonstration and try your luck at winning the finished pumpkin to display at your home for Halloween.
The film will be shown in its entirety in the auditorium at 7:30PM. While this event is not strictly an over 21 event, please be aware that The Silence of the Lambs has an R rating, so parental discretion is advised. Closed captioning will be available during the film showing.
A variety of refreshments will be available including a cash bar for guests ages 21 and older. If you do intend to partake, please be sure to bring a valid photo ID.
Mission BBQ will also be on site selling pulled pork or chicken sandwiches with mac and cheese and a bottle of water and assorted sauces. Meals sold by Mission BBQ are CASH ONLY so please bring cash if you wish to purchase a meal.
Advanced ticket purchases are strongly encouraged as space is limited. Tickets are nonrefundable.
VENDORS:
Bishop Victor Cianca
Psychic Medium Debbie Pakler, PhD
Joe Steinmetz, Metal Fabricator
The Light & Beyond by Jax Cassidy
THANK YOU TO OUR PRESENTING SPONSOR:
SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR SPONSOR:
A Fundraising Gala
Saturday
5 November 2022
The festivities for this patriotic, black-tie event will begin with cocktails and hors d’oeuvres as our museum comes alive.
Enjoy a unique and fun experience presented through the personal artifacts and real-life stories
of honor, courage, and sacrifice from our Veterans.
Then guests proceed to our elegant ballroom for an evening filled with fine food including a military-inspired formal sit-down dinner, entertainment, and MURDER.
Get ready for an interactive night of suspense
with a comedic edge courtesy of the national Murder Mystery Company.
We plan to have fun, but Soldiers & Sailors and the Murder Mystery Company will take every precaution necessary to create the most healthy conditions possible for our guests and staff as we continue to deal with the COVID pandemic.
ATTIRE: BLACK TIE (OPTIONAL)/MILITARY DRESS UNIFORM
Host Committee
Jeff Eiben
Richard Fersch & Kristi Gedid
Jim Fields
Stephen Kijanka
Jim Manion
Kayla Miller
Sophia Mirza & Keith Mitchell
Sean Moran
Mark Nave
Gene Pash
Chris Phillips
Andy & Cindy Russell
Amy Smiley
Thank You To Our Sponsors
Presenting Sponsor
Gold Sponsor
Silver Sponsors
Russell Charitable Foundation
Bronze Sponsors
Spotlight On:
Scrapbooks: Preserving History
November 10, 2022 7PM
Free Virtual Event – Join us on Facebook or YouTube
Please note: You can use the links above to watch archived Spotlight On programs!
Scrapbooks and photo albums are a very personal way to preserve individual and/or family memories. Soldiers & Sailors is honored to have a number of scrapbooks and photo albums as a part our collection. This program will highlight these artifacts and the stories behind the military personnel they remember. We will also discuss some basic methods that can be used to care for these irreplaceable pieces of family history. With Veterans Day coming up on November 11th, what better way honor the occasion than to take a moment and learn about these individuals through their own words and images.
Michael Kraus Bio:
A well-known Civil War historian, Kraus currently works as Curator/Historian for Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hall & Museum. His accomplishments include several historical consultant credits for major films, writing and narrating the documentary series Civil War Minutes and Civil War Life as well as authoring articles and books regarding the conflict. Michael also is an accomplished sculptor with an impressive resume of historically themed works in bronze.
Tim Neff Bio:
Tim Neff began working at Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hall & Museum Trust, Inc. in 2002 as the Director of Education. In 2017, Tim took on the role of Vice President and Director of Museum & Education at Soldiers & Sailors. He is a certified Social Studies teacher and holds a bachelor’s degree in History and Political Science from the University of Pittsburgh. During his time at Soldiers & Sailors, Tim has developed a variety of museum programs including: interactive and engaging tours and field trips, a footlocker outreach program, Boy Scout merit badge programs, teacher conferences, summer camps, community history events and much more.
Spotlight On:
The Battle of the Bulge
December 8, 2022
Free Virtual Event – Join us on Facebook or YouTube
Please note: You can use the links above to watch archived Spotlight On programs!
In December 1944 Germany launched their last offensive on the Western Front during World War II. Known as the Battle of the Bulge, it was one of the US Army’s greatest and fiercest battles of the war. Western Pennsylvania, particularly the Pittsburgh area, was represented in the famous engagement by two fighting divisions. The 99th Infantry Division, played a significant role in this engagement, suffering 2000 casualties in the first four days as they earned the nickname “Battle Babies. The other local connection the 110th RCT/ 28th Division, “Bloody Bucket”, slowed down the enemy’s surprise advance by several days gaining valuable time to reinforce the line at the cost of 4,000 casualties.
This program will highlight several artifacts in our collection related to the 99th Division and 28th Division and this historic event and will also feature stories about the role some of our local heroes played.
Michael Kraus Bio:
A well-known Civil War historian, Kraus currently works as Curator/Historian for Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hall & Museum. His accomplishments include several historical consultant credits for major films, writing and narrating the documentary series Civil War Minutes and Civil War Life as well as authoring articles and books regarding the conflict. Michael also is an accomplished sculptor with an impressive resume of historically themed works in bronze.
Tim Neff Bio:
Tim Neff began working at Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hall & Museum Trust, Inc. in 2002 as the Director of Education. In 2017, Tim took on the role of Vice President and Director of Museum & Education at Soldiers & Sailors. He is a certified Social Studies teacher and holds a bachelor’s degree in History and Political Science from the University of Pittsburgh. During his time at Soldiers & Sailors, Tim has developed a variety of museum programs including: interactive and engaging tours and field trips, a footlocker outreach program, Boy Scout merit badge programs, teacher conferences, summer camps, community history events and much more.
Soldiers & Sailors Tabletop Gamers
10AM – 4PM
Welcome to the monthly game day for the Soldiers & Sailors Tabletop Gamers! We welcome interested gamers ages 10 and up of all experience levels (including none) who want to bring or just play historical board games and miniatures war games, in keeping with the museums mission. Game days will require you to pay standard museum admission, which is listed on the museums website: https://www.soldiersandsailorshall.org/museum/. HINT: The annual membership is very inexpensive! https://www.soldiersandsailorshall.org/donate/#membership.
For more information please contact Tim Neff: tim@soldiersandsailorshall.org
December’s Theme: The Battle of the Bulge
Pennsylvania Magazine will be attending and plans to include us in an upcoming article on historical tabletop gaming…so we will have four especially photogenic miniatures games and displays:
- Multiplayer Battle of the Bulge scenario using Avalon Hill’s Panzer Leader situation 16
2. De Bellis Antiquitatis scenario
3. Multiplayer Gettysburg day 3 game
4. Multiplayer Battle of the Bulge-themed What a Tanker game.
We will also have several Battle of the Bulge boardgames available from the museum collection, including Avalon Hill Battle of the Bulge, SPI’s Ardennes Offensive and Battles for the Ardennes, and Panzer Leader.
What is Tabletop Gaming?
Tabletop gaming is played on a table with physical pieces, as opposed to video/computer games. Tabletop gaming includes both board games with playing pieces (for example, Stratego) and miniature games. Miniature games use representative terrain game boards and miniature military figures.
Please click on the green “Tickets” button to register and pre-pay admission to attend.
Spotlight On:
One Year in the Curatorial Department
January 12, 2023
Free Virtual Event – Join us on Facebook or YouTube
Please note: You can use the links above to watch archived Spotlight On programs!
Soldiers & Sailors maintains a collection of more than 11,000 objects, a number that continues to increase each year as new donations are accepted. The artifacts range from the Civil War to the present day and include uniforms, equipment, weaponry, paintings, photos books, personal letters, diaries, medals and a host of other US military relevant items. Join Curator Michael Kraus and Collections Manager Lisa Terrano for a fascinating look “behind the scenes” at what it is like to work with the museum’s collection. The program will specifically highlight several significant objects that arrived over the course of 2022 and the stories behind them.
Michael Kraus Bio:
A well-known Civil War historian, Kraus currently works as Curator/Historian for Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hall & Museum. His accomplishments include several historical consultant credits for major films, writing and narrating the documentary series Civil War Minutes and Civil War Life as well as authoring articles and books regarding the conflict. Michael also is an accomplished sculptor with an impressive resume of historically themed works in bronze.
Lisa Terrano Bio:
Lisa Terrano is the Collections Manager at Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hall & Museum. She joined the Museum in 2015 and has always had a passionate interest in military history. She is responsible for the safe storage of artifacts in the permanent collection, cataloging artifacts and has worked on display installations, museum tours, grant writing and fundraising events. She holds Masters in Military History from American Public University and a BA in History and Minor in Historical Preservation from the University of Pittsburgh.