Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall and Museum

Since this week includes Veteran’s Day and I’ve just launched my historic tour of Oakland, the signs all seem to be indicating that it’s time to blog about the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall and Museum in Oakland.

Many do not realize there is a museum inside the large temple-like building along 5th Avenue in Oakland, just across from the William Pitt Union. Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall and Museum opened in 1910 as a project of the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) to honor the veterans of the Civil War. Today the Hall honors American veterans from all eras and houses a great hidden treasure - the military museum.

The building was designed by Henry Hornbostel, the architect also responsible for the CMU campus and an early version of the University of Pittsburgh campus in Oakland. For those that appreciate neo-classical architecture, this is an impressive example of Beaux-Arts in the original Oakland Civic Center.

Journey up the long lawn and you’ll come to the main entrance of the Hall. Step inside and sign in, no admission is required in 2009 although a donation is encouraged. Once you’ve signed in, you’ll be able to walk around the “museum”. The majority of the hall is taken up by a central auditorium, but the halls around the auditorium have been made into a museum housing over a hundred years’ worth of militaria.

Starting to the left, you’ll move through military history from pre-Civil War to the recent conflicts in the Middle East. In addition to the hallway exhibits, there are a few thematic rooms displaying aspects of military life.

Along the main halls of the museum, the amount and variety of military memorabilia is impressive and certainly a must-see for anyone interested in militaria. In addition to numerous uniforms and a scattering of guns and cannons, there are a variety of personal artifacts and even a Korean War-era Jeep. As to the thematic exhibits, I particularly liked the “Thinking of You” section, which includes touching mementoes and letters from service men and women to their families.

Wandering these halls, you can also learn about the some of the unsung and unremembered groups in the military. There were a number of pieces about the place of women, including a WWII female pilot from our area whose service was only recognized decades later. Near the start of the museum there is a small room describing the place of children in wartime, which included becoming soldiers themselves during the Civil War.

If you are looking for a hidden museum and/or enjoy militaria, this is the place for you. It is also a great time to honor the service and sacrifice of thousands of local military service men and women. The museum is open Tuesday-Sunday 10 am – 4 pm and parking can be found in the garage under the hall as well as around Oakland.