We Can Do It! WWII: Traveling Exhibit
The We Can Do It! WWII traveling exhibition visited 18 cultural institutions throughout Western Pa. during the past three years after opening at the Beaver Area Heritage Museum in 2017. The exhibit was provided free of charge to members of the History Center Affiliates Program, a collection of more than 125 historical organizations throughout the region. Each site hosted the 500-square foot exhibit for approximately six weeks.
The We Can Do It! WWII traveling exhibit explores Western Pennsylvania’s incredible impact on the home, industrial, and battle fronts during World War II.
Visitors to the exhibit will learn about the development of the jeep, a uniquely American invention produced by the American Bantam Car Company in Butler, Pa., and hear the stories behind Rosie the Riveter and the local Tuskegee Airmen whose contributions helped to turn the tide of the war.
History Center Affiliate Program institutions are encouraged to display WWII-related items from their collections as part of the exhibit, which includes artifacts, previously unseen photographs, and large museum panels highlighting Western Pa.’s contributions to WWII.
The exhibit will showcase four lifelike museum figures of local WWII heroes:
- General George C. Marshall
- Tuskegee Airman Lt. Carl J. Woods
- Iwo Jima hero Sgt. Michael Strank
- The Westinghouse Company-inspired Rosie the Riveter
Schedule
APRIL 22, 2017 – JUNE 11, 2017
Beaver Area Heritage Museum in partnership with the Beaver County Historical Research & Landmarks Foundation (Beaver County)
JUNE 17, 2017 – AUGUST 8, 2017
Butler County Historical Society
AUGUST 12, 2017 – NOVEMBER 28, 2017
Erie County Historical Society
DECEMBER 2, 2017 – JANUARY 23, 2018
Ellwood City Area Historical Society
JANUARY 27, 2018 – MARCH 20, 2018
McKeesport Regional History & Heritage Center
MARCH 24, 2018 – MAY 22, 2018
Fayette County Historical Society
MAY 26, 2018, – JULY 24, 2018
Ohio County Public Library
JULY 28, 2018 – OCTOBER 7, 2018
California University of Pennsylvania
OCTOBER 11, 2018 – NOVEMBER 27, 2018
Depreciation Lands Museum – exhibit in the Township of Hampton Community Center
DECEMBER 1, 2018 – JANUARY 29, 2019
The Historical Society of Mount Lebanon
FEBRUARY 9, 2019 – MARCH 26, 2019
West Overton Village
MARCH 30, 2019 – MAY 21, 2019
Lawrence County Historical Society
MAY 25, 2019 – JULY 16, 2019
Blair County Historical Society in partnership with the Altoona Railroaders Memorial Museum
JULY 20, 2019 – SEPTEMBER 17, 2019
Somerset Historical Center
SEPTEMBER 21, 2019 – NOVEMBER 19, 2019
Carnegie Free Library of Beaver Falls
NOVEMBER 23, 2019 – JANUARY 28, 2020
Bedford County Historical Society
FEBRUARY 1, 2020 – APRIL 7, 2020
Donora Public Library
Exhibit Sponsors
The Eberly Foundation
