Video: What caused the Allegheny Arsenal explosion?

http://www.travelchannel.com/video/allegheny-arsenal-explosion

Gotta love staying up late...my mother informed me that one of last night's "Mysteries at the Museum" on the Travel Channel talked about the Allegheny Arsenal explosion. This talks about bullets found in the carnage of the Arsenal, now at the Heinz History Center in Pittsburgh. The video features History Center CEO Andy Masich.

I know, I've been quiet...

...but I have this awesome article about a "Mythbusters" type exhibit planned at the Heinz History Center, hoping to find out what caused the Allegheny Arsenal explosion, which will be really cool to see. Click below:

http://m.triblive.com/triblive/pm_5903/contentdetail.htm?contentguid=euzacrwA

In other news, I will be speaking about the Allegheny Arsenal next week, Wednesday the 9th, at my alma mater Edinboro University. Time and place still TBD. But I'm very excited about this opportunity!

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Heinz History Center's Civil War Page

http://www.heinzhistorycenter.org/civilwar/index.aspx

This is the page for Heinz History Center's Civil War events and exhibits (including the recent stop by the Civil War 150 Road Show). Keep checking back for new events and exhibits...I know I will.

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Civil War Road Show!

The Pennsylvania 150 Civil War Road Show made its inaugural stop in Pittsburgh this weekend at the Senator John Heinz History Center. Besides the 53 foot exhibit trailer, there was period music, living historians (some of whom I know), and tintype photography demonstrations. All in all, it was a great time, and I encourage everyone to go when it makes a stop in your county in the next few years. These pictures are in reverse order because that's what Blogger likes to do.


Some photos and artifacts inside the trailer.


A comic-strip sort of thing about the real-life mascot of our adopted regiment, a Staffordshire terrier named Sallie Ann Jarrett, who is honored at Gettysburg.


Some minie balls, a belt buckle, and a horseshoe. Some artifacts, such as these, were real while others were reproductions.


Some Grand Army of the Republic artifacts.


One of the stereoscopes of John Burns, the only known civilian to have joined in battle at Gettysburg.


A collage of period photographs taken in all 67 Pennsylvania counties.


Part of the entrance path.


The outside of the trailer. Where it was parked is the site of the former Fort Pitt Foundry, where the Rodman gun was developed (the largest in the world at the time) as well as many material contributions to the war effort.


A fly.


A brass Napoleon (I believe)


One of the road show trucks.


The trailer again.

What I could get of the 105th Pennsylvania Wildcat Band.

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PA 150 Civil War Road Show, starting this weekend

http://www.heinzhistorycenter.org/civilwar/content.aspx?id=10

This is the link from Heinz History Center for the kickoff weekend to PA 150's Civil War Road Show, which will stop in every county in the state from now until 2015. There will be living history demonstrations (always interesting to be on the other side of that for once!), period photography demonstrations, music, exhibits, a chance to talk about them, and more. Admission is just $5 this weekend, which also gets you into the Fort Pitt Museum at the Point in Pittsburgh. They have French and Indian War-era living history and such of their own going on this weekend too. Oh, and moms get in free on Sunday! It would be a great way to spend the day with her (my own mother has other plans, but I will be going with my sister, who is a great and busy mom).

I highly recommend that everyone goes to this, even if you would rather wait for it to hit your own county. But this weekend, you can see and do it all!

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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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Book review - Infantry and Industry: The Civil War in Western Pennsylvania

Available at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0936340118/ref=mp_s_a_1?qid=1300753978&sr=8-1

When the topic of the Civil War in Pennsylvania comes to mind, most people would think of Gettysburg. Indeed, one of the most important battles of the war was fought in south-central Pennsylvania. But few people would give much thought to Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania. However, this region was of much more vital importance than most might realize. Brian Butko and Nicholas Ciotola of the Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania - housed in the Senator John Heinz Regional History Center - have put together a collection of articles published over the years in the Society's magazine, what is now Western Pennsylvania History. These ten articles (dating as far back as 1923) discuss various aspects of Western Pennsylvania's contributions to the Civil War.

Not only did tens of thousands of men from this side of the state join the Union forces, but they and many more trained at various camps in and around Pittsburgh. One such camp was Camp Wilkins, in what is now the Strip District. It is featured in an article in this book. Pittsburgh was also a point of departure to the war in the midwest. The region also turned out many distinguished officers, including the aforementioned General Alexander Hays. The book features an article about General James Scott Negley, who had been initially successful at battles in the west, but was blamed for disobeying orders at the battle of Chickamauga, TN in September 1863. He was relieve of command the next month, but later had his name cleared.
Pittsburgh was not the only city or town effected by the war. One article does a case study of the small town of New Castle, north of the city, and its contributions in manpower and iron items. Another article shows some of the correspondence from a young "Bucktail" soldier from Warren County, Cordello Collins.
The Allegheny Arsenal has been covered almost to exhaustion in some sources (as I too will later). One article discusses Pittsburgh's contributions in guns, ammunition, supplies, and iron plating for the newfangled ironclad ships for the Union Navy. There was a constant fear during the war of Confederate raids on Pittsburgh because of all the guns and such stockpiled here, including at the Fort Pitt Foundry, located on 28th Street.
Women's contributions do not go unnoticed here. In 1864, the Sanitary Fair was held in Pittsburgh by the local chapter of the United States Sanitary Commission for the benefit of supplying soliders with food, medicine, and other necessities.
There are a few more articles in this book also; I dont wish to give too much away. This little volume should be an essential part of anyone's Civil War library, especially since it is about a place little-known for its important contributions to the war effort.

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Pittsburgh during the Civil War: Pictures from the Heinz History Center

I finally got to the Senator John Heinz History Center in Pittsburgh today with my sister (who had never been there) to take a walk-through as well as hit up their archives for information about the Allegheny Arsenal. I did find some new information (well, new to me), but it is fairly safe to say that I have almost exhausted the information on that area. I interned at the History Center almost three years ago and I thoroughly enjoyed working in that kind of atmosphere. If only getting a job was as easy...

Here, some pictures from the Pittsburgh: A Tradition of Innovation exhibit regarding the Allegheny Arsenal as well as Pittsburgh's involvement in the War in general. Pittsburgh was strategically important to the war effort because of its position at the headwaters of the Ohio River, which enabled supplies to be transferred to the midwest. The city's foundries and arsenal also turned out a lot of guns, ammunition, and other military supplies. So it's picture-heavy, kids.
These two dresses are in the Center's Special Collections, which has all sorts of cool items that everyday people in the Pittsburgh area from many different ethnic groups used. I am in serious lust with these Civil War era dresses, especially the green one. I would place these circa 1865 because the dresses both have a bit of a train going toward the back.








Sword made by Tiffany and Company, presented to General Alexander Hays, a Franklin, PA native who was a civil engineer in Pittsburgh, with a Zouave soldier carved into the handle.

Painting of Jane Grey Swisshelm, another Pittsburgh native who was an abolitionist as well as a journalist and nurse during the war. I believe she was the only female journalist to be present during the trial of the Lincoln assassination conspirators in 1865.

Broadside from the Pittsburgh Sanitary Fair in 1864. Sanitary fairs were held by chapters of the United States Sanitary Commission. This was a nationwide organization that raised money for supplies to care for soldiers, and was something with which women were heavily involved.

Martin R. Delany, a Pittsburgh native, doctor, and abolitionist who would become the highest ranking African American soldier during the war, as a major.


General Alexander Hays, whose sword is pictured above, and commanded the Third Division during the Gettysburg Campaign. He was killed during the Wilderness Campaign in 1864 and is buried in Allegheny Cemetery.

Replica of a 20-inch Rodman gun. It's plastic!


Types of balls used in larger cannons, including a 20-pounder.


Information about Colonel Thomas J. Rodman, who was in command of the Allegheny Arsenal for a time before assuming command of the Watertown Arsenal in Massachusetts. He was also an inventor, who invented the Rodman gun represented above.

Painting of the Pittsburgh Foundry, which turned out a lot of cannon and other items during the war.



Replica of a limber chest for an artillery piece, with a lot of artillery implements that also would have been manufactured at the Allegheny Arsenal. More of these are picture below.



Some of the types of artillery shells made at Allegheny Arsenal, including spherical case shot and solid shot.



A Remington .44 revolver and some small arms ammunition that would also have been made there.

Examples of cartridges that many women would have rolled, filled, and tied off.


Two pictures of women working in arsenals, 1860 and 1861, respectively.
An example of an 1859 McClellan saddle, made at the Arsenal in 1863. Yes, it was invented by General George McClellan.


Picture of a receipt from the Arsenal.


Picture of the Arsenal front, 1864.

All in all, a very busy and productive day. Every Western Pennsylvanian - no, everyone with interest in history - should go to the Heinz History Center.

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