Chicago Maritime Museum
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  • HOME
  • ABOUT US
    • LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
  • EVENTS
  • LEARN
    • ONLINE STORIES
    • COMMERCE
    • MILITARY TRAINING
    • SHIPWRECKS
    • RECREATION AND TOURISM
  • VISIT
  • SUPPORT US
    • DONATE >
      • GENERAL FUND
      • THIRD FRIDAY LECTURES
      • IN MEMORIAM DONATIONS
      • SPONSOR
    • MEMBERSHIP
    • VOLUNTEER
  • News
  • Contact Us
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ABOUT US


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.

 ​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. 
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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:
  • 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


        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
​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​

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Learn

Online Stories
   ​​WPA Mural
   Henry C. Grebe and Co.
​   The Christmas Tree Ships​

Commerce
​Military Training
Shipwrecks
Recreation and Tourism
​Chicago Maritime Museum is a 501(C)(3) Nonprofit registered in the US under Tax ID 36-3205719

Chicago Maritime Museum®. ​Registered in U.S. Patent and Trademark Office

Chicago Maritime Museum
1200 W 35th St
Chicago, IL 60609
​(773) 376-1982