Artifact Donation Update
AS OF: 10/01/2024
The Pennsylvania Military Museum is preparing for a large-scale capital improvement project. In preparation for this project, and in keeping with industry standards for care and preservation, the museum will not be storing sensitive artifacts onsite for the duration of the capital project.
Over the past year site staff have been diligently working to pack and move artifacts from the site to secured holdings elsewhere; this work will continue until the start of the capital project.
The next step is for the site to implement a temporary pause in accepting donations of artifacts and historical material to allow staff to focus on preparing the site at large for the capital project.
Though we welcome your offers & inquiries of interest via email, we cannot guarantee, nor should it be expected, that a response from the Curator will be immediate. It should be expected that artifact donations will be archived for correspondence at a later date.
It is expected this temporary pause in artifact donation acceptance will only last for the period listed below but may be extended due to unforeseen circumstances.
Temporary Artifact Donation Pause
Oct 01, 2024, through March 31, 2025
Artifact Donation
The Museum does not accept unsolicited artifacts through the mail. Those interested in donating artifacts must make an appointment* with our Curator, unannounced visits from prospective donors cannot be expected to be honored.
The Pennsylvania Military Museum preserves artifacts (large and small), archival material, and other items necessary to effectively tell the story of the service, sacrifice, and innovations related to the military history of the Commonwealth. As a Museum & Historic Site owned and administered by the Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission, Commonwealth of PA, the Pennsylvania Military Museum only accepts artifacts relating directly to Pennsylvania's military history for exhibition in the Museum.
*Please see “Artifact Donation Update” at the top of page.
As a general rule, the Museum does not accept artifacts that are:
too large for storage or display within museum space
infested with insects, disease organisms, or other pests
in poor condition
newspapers
potentially hazardous items (e.g., live ammunition, unexploded ordnance)
duplicates of original artifacts
If you have objects that you are interested in donating to the Museum, please contact us at jeneaton@pa.gov.
When you email our team, please provide any available information on the items, including their age, the conflict with which they are related, their connection to Pennsylvania, and your contact information. Also, if possible, please provide photographs of the artifact(s).
Artifacts are only accepted as unrestricted gifts and if the owner wishes to place specific conditions upon their donation (e.g., display guarantees, terms of the loan, etc.), they will not be accepted.
The Pennsylvania Military Museum uses artifacts for a variety of purposes, including exhibits organized and displayed in the Museum, for loans to other reputable institutions, and for research by students and historians. Artifacts not on exhibit or loan are placed in secure storage areas within the Museum. These areas have controlled humidity, temperature, and light to ensure that the items are carefully preserved.
Use the form below to contact our Curator about possible offers of donations.