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.
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
For January’s gameday we will be playing games from the Soldiers & Sailors collection of games!
For a full list of our game inventory click here!
Before January’s Game Day:
- Pick out a game or two and put the game name in the event discussion at least a week before game day. The rules will be posted so you can read them in advance.
- Or you can reply to someone else’s post that you will play the game they selected. Your game will be out and ready to play on the 28th.
- If anyone wants to play Battle Cry, lovely painted miniatures donated by HMGS Next Gen will be available.
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:
Thinking of You
February 9, 2023
Free Virtual Event – Join us on Facebook or YouTube
Please note: You can use the links above to watch archived Spotlight On programs!
For soldiers and sailors serving around the world, thoughts of home and family are often an important source of comfort needed to pass the time when far away. Since the earliest days of American military service, servicemen, servicewomen and their loved ones have used may different communication methods to stay in touch and reflect upon their strong bonds. Just in time for Valentine’s Day, this program will highlight a number of letters, cards, diaries, photos and more items from the museum’s collection that represent the theme “Thinking of You”.
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.
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.
Join us as we celebrate romance with our Valentine’s Day love letters live reading on Friday, February 17th.
Enjoy a special Valentine’s Day themed temporary display to the background of a strolling violin by Steven Vance followed by live readings of authentic love letters from the museum’s archives from various military eras over charcuterie, champagne, and desserts at your own private table for two. Tickets include one complimentary beverage of your choice followed by a beer, wine, and champagne cash bar.
Caricature artist Howard Bender will be selling caricatures from 6pm to 7pm.
Ticket price will be $70 for a table of 2. Space for this live love letter reading engagement is very limited, so we encourage securing your non-fundable reservations as soon as possible. This is an ages 21 and older event.
Thank you to our Presenting Sponsor:
Thank you to our additional sponsors:
The John L. Ford, Sr. African American Heritage Celebration
February 23, 2023 – 7PM
Free Virtual Event
Free Virtual Event – Join us on Facebook or YouTube
Unforgotten Heroes: The Black Experience in World War I
Panel Discussion:
Moderator: Sonya D. Ford, Program Manager, Carnegie Mellon University, Swartz Center for Entrepreneurship
Panelist: Jaquay Edward Carter, Award Winning Historian & USMC Veteran
Panelist: Michael Kraus, Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hall & Museum Curator
Featuring: Soldiers & Sailors 6th Regiment USCT Drum Corps Performance Video
More than 380,000 African Americans served in the US Army during World War I. Even in the face of a segregated society and military, Black men were willing to serve their country. This program will examine the significant contributions made by Black soldiers and will also highlight the role that Pittsburgh played in the Great War. Join us to learn about the “Unforgotten Heroes” of World War I.
Moderator: Sonya D. Ford, Program Manager, Carnegie Mellon University, Swartz Center for Entrepreneurship
Panelist: JaQuay Edward Carter
JaQuay Edward Carter, award-winning historian and USMC Veteran, is a Pittsburgh native who has been researching the region’s history for over a decade, with a primary focus on the Black Experience. Mr. Carter is a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh, where he majored in History Education. In January of 2018, JaQuay founded the Greater Hazelwood Historical Society of Pittsburgh, which is now internationally recognized. Currently, Mr. Carter is an Interpretive Specialist, archivist, writer and Community Outreach Coordinator at the Rivers of Steel Heritage Corporation.
Panelist: Michael Kraus
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.
The John L. Ford, Sr., African American Heritage Celebration is a FREE annual event focusing on the sacrifices & contributions of African Americans during the American conflicts. Developed in 2011 by Mr. Ford, the event has become a valued aspect of the museum’s community outreach. In 2020, the African American Heritage Celebration was renamed in honor of the late John L. Ford, Sr., who served as Soldiers & Sailors Historian from 2007 through 2017.
Spotlight On:
The Female Soldier: Elaine H. Berkowitz, DMD
March 9, 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!
Dr. Elaine Berkowitz, a Pittsburgh native, received her Doctor of Dental Medicine from the University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine. She retired from the Army Reserves as a Lieutenant Colonel with 38 years of service, and she deployed 4 times and has accumulated numerous medals and awards. Dr. Berkowitz is a member of various military and dental organizations. She is active in the Reserve Officers Association, the Military Order of World Wars, The American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Jewish War Veterans, Women Army Corp Veterans Association, Women’s Overseas Service League as well as the American Dental Association and Special Advocates in Dentistry, to name a few. She received a Doctor Honoris Causa from the University of Prizren, Kosovo. This prestigious award was previously given to Bill Clinton and Tony Blair. Dr. Berkowitz has published her autobiography, “Live Life…Love Country”.
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.