Society for Women and the Civil War Conference 2012

This conference was awesome. Tiring, but awesome. I nailed my speech. I was overwhelmed with how supportive and welcoming everyone was.
Yesterday, we had a field trip to the former Allegheny Arsenal site (where I acted as a sorta tour guide), Allegheny Cemetery with James Wudarczyk, and Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall. Then we had several fabulous lectures (including one by a high school student...she rocked it) and then a banquet of Pittsburghese cuisine. For those of you non-local, that includes pierogies, kilbassa and sauerkraut, halupki, rigatoni, fried chicken. Then we had a sing along of period music (16 years of living history helps with knowing so much of the words) and a fishbowl auction and door prizes - I won a couple books. Score. And today, we finished with a few more lectures. It was such an honor to present before so many knowledgeable people, as well as my loved ones (my mom, sister, and boyfriend, in this case).

For some reason, my "smart" phone likes to get pics out of order, so bear with me:

The people I'm with are my mom (in the blue dress), my sister (of In the Swan's Shadow blog, in brown) and my boyfriend Mark. There's a few photos of the Allegheny Arsenal explosion monument at the Cemetery, and of Soldiers and Sailors. I included the Peanuts/cartoons display because I'm a huge Peanuts/Snoopy collector.

Allegheny Arsenal Monument on Find a Grave

Arsenal Monument ( - 1862) - Find A Grave Memorial

Find a Grave is itself a good time-killing website, but here is the page for the Arsenal Monument at Allegheny Cemetery. If you like, you can leave "flowers" there in honor of those who died.

PA 150: Pittsburgh During the Civil War

http://www.pacivilwar150.com/regions/pittsburgh.aspx

The above link is to the Pennsylvania Civil War 150's page about the Pittsburgh area during the Civil War. Though there were no battles fought here, Pittsburgh contributed heavily in manpower and materiel, and it was strategically important because of its location at the head of the Ohio River. Because of this, there was fear throughout the war of it being a target of Confederate raids or attacks. During the sesquicentennial, there will be a calendar of events pertaining to that all across the state. The page has links to local spots, including the Heinz History Center, Allegheny Cemetery, and the LeMoyne House (in Washington, Pa) - all of which i have visited. It also has links to county and local historical societies if you are curious about your own local or family's connection to the conflict and want to delve into research. So, keep checking the page for updates on things to see and do! I know i will be.

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