The Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hall & Museum in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania has been honoring the men and women who served in the United States military since it opened in 1910. The Museum proudly showcases soldiers stories and wars fought since 1775 and teaches locals, tourists and the Boy & Girl Scouts of America military history with self-paced or guided tours.
The Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hall & Museum was originally built as a tribute to Allegheny County’s Civil War veterans. The museum is located on the first floor while the grand ballroom and private meeting places are on the second and third floors. The museum corridors holding all of its military artifacts are named after the compass directions on which they lie, except for one. The entrance is referred to as the “Front Hall” because the Union Civil War veterans of the GAR, that operated the museum at the time, refused to acknowledge the “South” in its memorial museum.
The Front Hall is the first exhibit you see once you enter the museum. In this corridor you will start by seeing displays about Fort Pitt and Duquesne Greys, once you’ve toured the other Halls you will end your tour on the far side of the Front Hall with displays featuring the Gulf War and Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom.
The West Hall is home to the Civil War exhibits. The exhibits show guests everything from the influence of music to camp life to civilian life in Pittsburgh during the Civil War. The West Hall also has a tribute to President Abraham Lincoln that includes his bust, which was the first artifact ever donated to the museum. Troop Leader Emily Saville said “it’s important to teach the girls about the military and our history so they know what it took to become a free country where all people are created equal.”
Once you enter the North Hall you will encounter numerous WWI and WWII exhibits. The WWI displays show trench art, uniforms, and the start of aviation warfare. The WWII exhibits show a wide variety of things including uniforms, military jeeps and information on K9 soldiers that helped win the second World War.
The East Hall rounds out the remaining WWII exhibits by showcasing the War in the Pacific. Then you will encounter several exhibits on both the Korean and Vietnam Wars. The East Hall also highlights the uniforms U.S. women military members wore throughout history up to the Class A’s in the front.
If you are a military lover, an American Patriot, a history buff, or just a local yinzer the Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hall & Museum is a must-see. They have over 25,000 names of Allegheny men who served in the Union Army in the Civil War on bronze plaques on all four hall walls. They are open Monday-Saturday 10AM-4PM. Military members, veterans and their families get in for free.
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