Chicago’s history and development stem from its axis at the foot of the Great Lakes. This strategic location gave the city access to the St Lawrence Seaway and the Atlantic Ocean as well as the radiating rivers that lead to the Mississippi and the Gulf of Mexico. In addition, a great network of freight trains serves the city moving Midwestern produce and products to the world and returning with goods from around the nation and the world. At varying times, Chicago has been the busiest port or one of the busiest ports in the world. It is a tall order to tell the story of Chicago’s waterways and their emotional and prosperous impact on 19th, 20th and 21st century American growth.
Welcome to the Chicago Maritime Museum and our developing story of Chicago’s maritime traditions and impact. Come visit our museum on the shores of Bubbly Creek at the Bridgeport Art Center.
Welcome to the Chicago Maritime Museum and our developing story of Chicago’s maritime traditions and impact. Come visit our museum on the shores of Bubbly Creek at the Bridgeport Art Center.
The Chicago Maritime Museum, located on the River Level of the Bridgeport Art Center at 35th Street and Racine Ave., opened in July of 2016. The museum offers visitors a chronological walk through local maritime history including the eras of French fur traders, sail and steam-powered vessels, modern commercial Great Lakes frigates, recreational sailing and the Ralph and Rita Frese Canoe Collection. Designed by renowned architect and CMM chairman emeritus, Dirk Lohan, the 10,000-square-foot museum serves as a window into Chicago’s maritime history.
Translating yesterday…to transform tomorrow
The mission of Chicago Maritime Museum is to become recognized as the leading authority on our waterways and their significance to Chicago and the world in the past, present, and future.
CMM Vision:
People in its community will:
CMM Vision:
People in its community will:
- Know Chicago changed the nation’s economy thanks to its people, maritime heritage and location
- See that Chicago’s evolution was defined by its location between the Mississippi and Great Lakes
- Understand the impact of our waterways on our ecology and well being
- Appreciate the role our waterways have played in discovery, settlement, trade and recreation
- Become more involved with our waterways, for both work and leisure
Officers
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Board of Directors Chairman Captain Dave Truitt Vice-Chairman & Treasurer Gerald H. Thomas, Ph.D -President Emeritus Secretary David R. Metzger Directors Anil Ahuja Mary Alyce Blum Grant Crowley Matthew Howard Deane Tank, Sr, Ph.D. Special Advisor Dirk Lohan - Chairman Emeritus |
Operations Committee
Gerald H. Thomas, Ph.D., Chair Glenn Braun Sari Breslin William Derrah Jim Jarecki Theodore Karamanski, Ph.D. Patrick McBriarty Stanley Mehaffey Mary Ann O’Rourke Kathleen J. Thomas Thatcher Waller, Jr. Staff
Dylan Hoffmann, Curator Ariana Rubin, Museum Manager Denise Gonzalez, Museum Assistant Mitchell Jackson, Museum Assistant David Davison, Museum Assistant |
Volunteers
Carolyn Aronson Patrick Conomy Tom Kastle Dick Lanyon Barbara Mehaffey Nancy Michael Keith Pearson Betsy Perrine Kathryn Perrine Mark Perrine Chuck Perry Scott Reimer Bob Rushman |