Discover how Pittsburgh affected World War II – and the war affected our region – as part of the new exhibition, We Can Do It! WWII. Developed by the History Center, this 10,000 square-foot exhibition focuses on Pittsburgh’s role on both the home front and the battlefield during World War II.

The exhibition explores the development of the jeep, a uniquely American invention produced by the American Bantam Car Company in Butler, Pa., and reveal the stories behind real-life “Rosie the Riveters” and local Tuskegee Airmen whose contributions made an unquestionable impact on the war effort.

Featuring nearly 300 artifacts, four life-like museum figures, interactive displays, and immersive museum settings, We Can Do It! brings the 1940s to life as the nation commemorates the 75th anniversary of the start of WWII.

The History Center partnered with several organizations to develop the exhibit, including the Smithsonian Institution, Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, Soldiers and Sailors Museum, Holocaust Center of Pittsburgh, Veteran’s Voices, Bantam Jeep Heritage Festival, Association of the United States Army (AUSA) Fort Pitt Chapter, the Tuskegee Airmen of the Western Pennsylvania Region, Zippo/Case Museum, First Frontier Mechanized Cavalry, and more.

The History Center’s Detre Library & Archives contains many more great WWII photos and stories than we could squeeze into a 10,000 square foot exhibition. Dozens more have been offered during the course of our research, some of which are featured below.

Pittsburgh’s WWII Photo Album allows local residents to share their family stories and show how the region banded together to help win WWII.