Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hall & Museum
Spotlight On:
U.S. Coast Guard
August 10, 2023 7PM
Free Virtual Event – Join us on Facebook or YouTube
Please note: You can use the links above to watch archived Spotlight On programs!
Every year, August 4th is celebrated as the U.S. Coast Guard Birthday, commemorating the military organization for its valor and discipline. Since 1790, they have kept the nation’s waterways safe, playing a critical role in national security. This program will feature Michael D. Evanish, CDR, USCG (ret.), who will speak about his experiences while serving in the Coast Guard. He will also present a brief history of the Coast Guard, including key milestones and iconic events. Also highlighted will be artifacts from the museum’s collection related to this branch of the U.S. Military.
Michael D. Evanish, CDR, USCG (ret.) Bio
-Soldiers & Sailors, Safety and Security Manager
-Born and raised in Pittsburgh, PA
-Sto-Rox High School Graduate
-B.A. University of Pittsburgh
-Graduate of USCG Officer Candidate School in Yorktown, VA
-23-year Coast Guard career (Active Duty and Reserves) including three post 9/11 activation tours. Retired as a Commander in 2014.
-10+ year professional career in private, corporate, public school and event security
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! 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.
Soldiers & Sailors recognizes those fallen service members from the War on Terrorism with this display of 7,053 dog tags suspended between the light posts across the walkway leading to the building for visitors to pass under.
Each dog tag represents an individual life lost in the conflicts since September 11, 2001.
Included are 304 special flag dog tags specifically representing each individual from Pennsylvania.
The open-air memorial is free to visit and open 24 hours a day now through October 11th.
Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hall & Museum
Spotlight On:
Allegheny Arsenal
September 14, 2023 7PM
Free Virtual Event – Join us on Facebook or YouTube
Please note: You can use the links above to watch archived Spotlight On programs!
In 1814 the Federal Government established a new manufacturing and distribution center named Allegheny Arsenal in Lawrenceville a few miles up the Allegheny River from downtown Pittsburgh. During the Civil War high demand for ammunition escalated production at the arsenal and opportunities arose, particularly for women who found employment rolling cartridges. On September 17, 1862 a series of explosions occurred in the workshops and 78 workers perished. This program will examine the history of the Allegheny Arsenal and will highlighted artifacts from the museum’s collection related to this nationally historical site.
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.
The GoldStars Tribute Wall exists to Honor the fallen while serving in the United States military from the beginning of the Gulf War through the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. The public is invited to visit this one of a kind traveling exhibit created to honor the sacrifices made to maintain the Constitutional freedoms we exercise today. It will be available for view on our front lawn where Bigelow Blvd and Fifth Avenue meet from September 15th through the 17th.
Join Vietnam Veterans Inc. (VVI) as they raise awareness & remember all Prisoners of War and those Missing in Action.
More details to come.
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.
Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hall & Museum
Spotlight On:
The History of Soldiers & Sailors
October 12, 2023 7PM
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 Memorial Hall & Museum has stood as a landmark in the Oakland neighborhood of Pittsburgh for more than 110 years. Originally constructed as a memorial to veterans of the Civil War, today Soldiers & Sailors honors veterans from the Civil War through present day from all branches of service. This program will examine the origins and history of the memorial, as well as the creation of the non-profit trust which manages the building and the collection of artifacts today. Join Curator Michael Kraus and Director of Education Tim Neff to learn all about Soldiers & Sailors and many of the interesting stories and events that have taken place in and around this historic structure.
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
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.
Inviting college freshmen only to a FREE showing of The Silence of the Lambs!
We hope to encourage first year students who may be new to the Oakland area to learn about
Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hall & Museum while celebrating our brush with classic cinematic horror!
The movie will be shown in our auditorium. Start time is 7:00 PM. (Doors open at 6:30 PM)
See a replica cage in the grand ballroom where the iconic escape scene was filmed.
BYOP: Bring your own popcorn!
Limited Seating Available
Registration is encouraged.