Dates & programs are subject to change, please contact the Museum to confirm event details.


Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day
Dec
7

Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day

Eighty-three years ago on December 7th, 1941 the US Pacific Fleet at Hawaii was attacked by aircraft by the Imperial Japanese Navy. The tribute is held beneath the guns of the USS Pennsylvania, which was a witness to that attack.

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Life Under the Canopy: The Vietnam War
Jul
27

Life Under the Canopy: The Vietnam War

Immerse yourself in the controversial conflict that defined the second half of the twentieth century, the Vietnam War. Walk through a military camp and talk to living historians about the war in Southeast Asia. Explore how conflict often falls on the shoulders of youth, changing the lives and perspectives of many young Americans in the 1960’s and 1970’s. Encampment open to the public 10:00 a.m. till 3:00 p.m. Donation Appreciated.

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3rd Annual Taste of Taxation
Jul
20

3rd Annual Taste of Taxation

A protest of the taxation of distilled spirits, with the goal of raising revenue to pay down the war-debt from the Revolutionary War, resulted in the calling-up of troops to suppress a violent uprising. Join historians* for an engaging presentation about the historical events that took place in1794 at 3:00pm, followed by a spirit tasting session hosted by Big Spring Spirits. Event doors open at 2:45PM, presentation is 45 minutes followed by Q&A. *Featured speaker to be announced.

Upon arrival guests can enjoy a “Welcome Cocktail” provided free of charge, by Big Spring Spirits of Bellefonte, PA.

After the presentation, Big Spring Spirits will host a spirit tasting session for event attendees featuring (6yr) Rye, Wheat, Corn, and American (bourbon) whiskies. This will be an educational experience unlike any other - tasting each grain separately, and then finally, blended in the bourbon style (American Whiskey). All and more will be available for purchase.

A commemorative, specially labeled bottle of Rye Whiskey will be available for purchase to benefit the Friends of Pennsylvania Military Museum - Big Spring Spirits will donate $10.00 per bottle - check back about presale orders!

Pre-registration to attend the event is required for each individual attendee, registration is free, donations appreciated. Visitors who wish to participate in taste testing must meet Pennsylvania's legal age requirements.

Event attendance is limited to 50 participants.

Registration for members of the general public will be openWednesday, June 12th, at 9am. Until then, only members of the Friends of the Pennsylvania Military are able to register.

Registrants will receive confirmation by email.

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Operation Overlord: Embarking on the “Great Crusade” in Europe
Jun
8

Operation Overlord: Embarking on the “Great Crusade” in Europe

Military historian Daniel Foster will discuss the major events in the European Theater of Operations before June 1944, explore some of the facets of the preparations for the cross-channel assault, and relate select stories from across the landing zone - from the River Orne to the base of the Cotentin peninsula.

Event is free and open to the public, taking place in the site’s theater. No reservation needed, donation apprecaited.

Daniel Foster served 28 years in the US Army on active duty, in the US Army Reserve, and in the Pennsylvania National Guard. He began his career as a Chemical officer, later reclassified as an Infantry then a Quartermaster officer. His assignments included Third Armored Division in Germany and Operation Desert Storm, company commander, Army ROTC instructor, an Inspector General, and Division Chemical Officer. He retired as a Lieutenant Colonel. He holds a Master of Arts in Military History from Norwich University. He lives in State College.

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Annual AACA Car Show
May
27

Annual AACA Car Show

Regional Antique Automobile Club of America Chapter’s annual summer season kickoff event featuring many pre-war through modern classics on display throughout the grounds of the 28th Division Shrine Complex/PA Military Museum.

$Fee for on-site parking.

9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

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Finding My Father's Footsteps
May
25

Finding My Father's Footsteps

The United States 4th Infantry Division’s 22nd Infantry Regiment loads at Plymouth, England, June 5, 1944, in preparation for landing on D-Day. They will be transported across the English Channel in this and other similar naval landing craft to Utah Beach, Normandy, France the morning of June 6, 1944.

To honor the 80th Anniversary of the D-Day Landing, Karen Marshall will discuss her new book, Finding My Father’s Footsteps.  Part memoir, part historic chronicle of the 4th Infantry Division’s 22nd Infantry Regiment in World War II, the book was inspired by her efforts to solve a mystery involving her father’s actions in Heinrich Himmler’s home in 1945. Armed with a war journal her father never shared with his family and her training in historical research, the author returned to the battlefields of Europe and the men her father, John Sisson, served with to find the answers.

Event is free and open to the public, and will take place in the site’s theater. Registration is not required, donations are appreciated.

Karen Marshall lives in Chester County, Pennsylvania, where she worked in historic preservation planning for more than twenty years. Her work included extensive documentation of the Battle of Brandywine (1777) for the American Battlefield Protection Program. She holds a master’s degree in Urban Affairs and Public Policy with a certificate in Historic Preservation from the University of Delaware.

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Life at The Front: World War Two
May
25
to May 26

Life at The Front: World War Two

Immerse yourself in life on the Western Front during the second World War. Explore an army camp and talk to living historians about life on the front lines; spend your weekend with us and learn how the pivotal Battle of Hurtgen Forest changed the course of the war and the lives of the soldiers who fought in it. Encampment open to the public 10:00 a.m. till 3:00 p.m. Donation Appreciated.

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A Walk to Remember Our Fallen
May
25

A Walk to Remember Our Fallen

Join members of A Soldiers Hands & Carry The Load, and community members for a walk, roll, or ruck event providing an opporunity to pause, and remember those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice for our freedoms. Event will take place rain or shine, on the Walking Path of the Pennsylvania Military Museum.

Registration Required:

https://runsignup.com/Race/PA/Boalsburg/ASoldiersHands

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Into the Cold Blue: My World War II Journeys with the Mighty Eighth Air Force
May
24

Into the Cold Blue: My World War II Journeys with the Mighty Eighth Air Force

A born daredevil, John Homan joined the Army Air Forces after the Pearl Harbor attack. By 1944, he was co-piloting a B-24 Liberator over Nazi Germany, raining death and destruction on the enemy. He miraculously survived thirty-four combat missions over four months. Nearly eighty years later, he teamed up with historian Jared Frederick to author a powerfully revealing memoir of the air war in Europe. Join Homan and Frederick on Memorial Day weekend for an engaging conversation on the camaraderie, heroism, and horror experienced by Homan and his fellow aviators. Audience Q&A will follow. Personalized, signed copies of Homan's and Frederick's book, Into the Cold Blue, will be available for purchase after the authors' presentation.

This exclusive evening engagement kicks off the museum's WWII weekend, Life at the Front. The conversation begins at 6:30pm on Friday May 24 at the Pennsylvania Military Museum in Boalsburg, Centre County, PA. Admission is free and open to the general public. Donations to the museum are welcome.

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UNCLE DICK: THE BRAVEST MAN I NEVER MET
May
18

UNCLE DICK: THE BRAVEST MAN I NEVER MET

In a round table presentation, Museum volunteer Mike Siggins will tell the story of his uncle, Lewistown native U.S. Army PFC Richard C. Van Dyke, who was killed in action during General Patton’s Third Army Moselle River crossings in September, 1944. Battle maps, after action reports, and the personal belongings of PFC Van Dyke and his family will bring you face to face with the realities of one man’s sacrifices and give you a deeper appreciation of the meaning of Memorial Day. Donation Appreciated

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CentralPA Civil War Roundtable - The Battle of the Wilderness
May
7

CentralPA Civil War Roundtable - The Battle of the Wilderness

Chris Mackowski will speak on "Hell Itself – The Battle of the Wilderness.”  May 5 -7 is the 160th Anniversary of the Battle of the Wilderness in Virginia.  Mr. Mackowski is a historian for the National Park Service at Fredericksburg where he gives tours of the Battle of the Wilderness. Lecture is free and open to the public, event takes place in the site's theater.

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Tanks In World War 1- From Desperation to Dominance
Apr
6

Tanks In World War 1- From Desperation to Dominance

Join us for a presentation by local historian Mike Siggins about the development and use of tanks in The Great War. Learn why tanks were necessary, how they almost failed and how the tank emerged from World War I as the most influential technological development in the history of modern ground warfare and combined arms tactics. 

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The Great War Remembered
Apr
6
to Apr 7

The Great War Remembered

This year marks the 107th anniversary of American combat troops fighting in France and the end of the First World War. This weekend remembers that time with lectures and temporary exhibits detailing life on the Western Front. Regular Admission Rates Apply; 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

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Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day
Dec
7

Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day

Eighty-two years ago on December 7th, 1941 the US Pacific Fleet at Hawaii was attacked by aircraft by the Imperial Japanese Navy. The tribute is held beneath the guns of the USS Pennsylvania, which was a witness to that attack. Guided tours and light refreshments will be available in the Museum theater.

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Holidays at the Front
Dec
2
to Dec 3

Holidays at the Front

Join us Saturday December 2nd and Sunday December 3rd for a living history encampment and “Selfies with Santa.” Click for more information.

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Exploring the Armor
Aug
26

Exploring the Armor

Take a private history tour of the outside tracked vehicles and discuss the history of armored vehicles with a preeminent local historian. Tour begins at the museum but appropriate footwear is required. Limited space, reservations are required. $15.00 or $5.00 with annual Museum membership. Please note that we will not be accessing the inside of the tracked vehicles.

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Life Under the Canopy: The Vietnam War
Jul
22
to Jul 23

Life Under the Canopy: The Vietnam War

2023 closes the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War. Join museum staff and living history volunteers in our final event of the anniversary. Immerse yourself in the controversial conflict that defined the second half of the twentieth century; walk through a military camp and experience life on the front in Southeast Asia. Explore how conflict often falls on the shoulders of youth, changing the lives and perspectives of many young Americans in the 1960’s and 1970’s. Encampment is open to public 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Regular Admission Rates apply to Museum Gallery.

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2nd Annual Taste of Taxation: The Whiskey Rebellion
Jul
15

2nd Annual Taste of Taxation: The Whiskey Rebellion

Pre-registration to attend the event is required for each individual attendee, registration is free. Registrants will be emailed a ticket ahead of event. Event attendance is limited to 60 participants. Registration links below.

A protest of the taxation of distilled spirts, with the goal of raising revenue to pay down the war-debt from the Revolutionary War, resulted in the calling-up of troops to suppress a violent uprising. Join American Whiskey Convention founder and industry professional Laura Fields, for a presentation titled, Restoring the Historic Foundations of Rye Whiskey in Pennsylvania, at the Pennsylvania Military Museum at 1:00pm, followed by a spirit tasting session hosted by Big Spring Spirits, and close out the afternoon with a lecture presented by Museum Director, Mr. Tyler O. Gum titled, Stand To - The Whiskey Rebellion at 3:00 p.m. Each lecture is 45mins, tasting session is one hour. Both lectures are free, as is the tasting session.

Upon arrival guests can enjoy a “Welcome Cocktail” provided free of charge, by Big Spring Spirits of Bellefonte, PA.

  • Rye Old Fashioned… a Rye aged six years, Orange, Lemon, Cherry, and Sugar.

Between the lectures, Big Spring Spirits will host a spirit tasting session for event attendees featuring (6yr) Rye, Wheat, Corn, and American (bourbon) whiskies. This will be an educational experience unlike any other - tasting each grain separately, and then finally, blended in the bourbon style (American Whiskey). All and more will be available for purchase.

A commemorative, specially labeled bottle of Rye Whiskey will be available for purchase to benefit the Friends of Pennsylvania Military Museum - Big Spring Spirits will donate $10.00 per bottle - check back about presale orders!

Presentation Details:

Laura Fields, founder of the Delaware Valley Fields Foundation (DVFF), the SeedSpark Project, and the American Whiskey Convention in Philadelphia, invites you to return to the 19th century and rediscover Pennsylvania’s internationally recognized dominance within the American whiskey industry. Pennsylvania enjoyed an elite status as the home of rye whiskey since the late 18th century, but that position of authority has been undercut by competition and eroded by misinformation over the last 100 years. Join us as we dispel the misconceptions about rye and reconstruct the past to present a clearer picture of what made Pennsylvania the universally acknowledged heart of pure rye whiskey production in the United States from the late 18th through the 20th century.

Tyler Gum, Director of the Pennsylvania Military Museum will give a presentation on the military operation that transpired in Western Pennsylvania, and the evolution of using military units for civilian matters. Such mobilization continues to have lasting impacts on how and when a governor, or president, is permitted to deploy state and national troops. Join us as we explore the various state and federal powers that govern the National Guard, and their Federalization, and the use of federal troops within the continental United States, 1795 to today.

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Exploring the Armor
Jun
3

Exploring the Armor

Take a private history tour of the outside tracked vehicles and discuss the history of armored vehicles with a preeminent local historian. Tour begins at the museum but appropriate footwear is required. Limited space, reservations are required. $15.00 or $5.00 with annual Museum membership. Please note that we will not be accessing the inside of the tracked vehicles.

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Allegheny Mountain Region A.A.C.A Car Show
May
29

Allegheny Mountain Region A.A.C.A Car Show

The Regional Antique Automobile Club of America’s Allegheny Mountain Region Chapter hosts their annual summer season kickoff event on the grounds of the 28th Division Shrine at the Pennsylvania Military Museum. This event features many pre-war through modern classic cars on display through the grounds. $5 of on-site parking, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

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On Scalpel’s Edge: Applying hard fought lessons from across the globe to mend the surgical & heal the psyche
May
27

On Scalpel’s Edge: Applying hard fought lessons from across the globe to mend the surgical & heal the psyche

James Markman MD is both a Colorectal surgeon in civilian practice and Trauma surgeon in the US Army Medical Corps. Dr. Markman began his active-duty career in 2005 as a paratrooper and artilleryman in the Army’s heralded 82nd Airborne “All American” Division. He deployed to Iraq twice and was awarded the Purple Heart Medal for wounds sustained. He transitioned into the Army Reserve and joined the Army clandestine Psychological Operation (PSYOP) command while attending Hillsdale College. He earned his medical doctorate at Michigan State University. He then attended General Surgical Residency at Mount Carmel Health (Columbus, Ohio) followed by Colon & Rectal Surgical fellowship at Geisinger Health (Danville, Penn). As an Army Trauma Surgeon, Dr. Markman has deployed with 3rd Group Special Forces Command (AFRICOM) - bringing first-world surgical care to the dusty and austere corners of the third world. The lessons learned from across this far-ranging career form the basis of his remarks this Memorial Day at the Pennsylvania Military Museum.

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