Chicago Maritime Museum | Chicago

The Chicago Maritime Museum is a specialized museum dedicated to preserving, showcasing, and educating the public about Chicago’s rich maritime history and its deep connection to the Great Lakes and inland waterways. Located in the Bridgeport Art Center on Chicago’s South Side, the museum highlights the city’s important role as a port and transportation hub, as well as the cultural and economic impact of maritime activities in the region.

History and Mission

Founded in 2016, the Chicago Maritime Museum was created to fill a gap in Chicago’s cultural landscape by focusing on the city’s nautical heritage, which had often been overlooked in favor of its architectural or industrial history. The museum’s mission is to preserve artifacts, documents, and stories related to maritime commerce, shipbuilding, navigation, and the lives of those who worked on the water. It aims to raise awareness of how Lake Michigan and the Chicago River shaped the city’s development, economy, and identity.

With a growing collection of over 6,000 artifacts, the museum includes everything from small maritime tools and ship models to historic photographs, paintings, and oral histories. The museum also highlights diverse community contributions, including those of Irish American canal builders, sailors, and ship captains.

Collections and Exhibits

The Chicago Maritime Museum features nine permanent galleries and several rotating temporary exhibitions. The displays provide visitors with an immersive understanding of Chicago’s maritime past, from early exploration and canal construction to modern shipping and environmental efforts.

Key exhibits include:

Lady Elgin Disaster Exhibit
Focuses on the tragic sinking of the steamboat Lady Elgin in 1860, one of the deadliest maritime disasters on the Great Lakes, where around 300 people lost their lives. The exhibit presents survivor stories, artifacts recovered from the wreck, and historical context about shipping and passenger travel on the lakes.

Captain Bill Pinkney Exhibit
Celebrates Chicago native Captain William Pinkney, the first Black sailor to complete a solo circumnavigation of the globe, navigating the five Great Capes. The exhibit includes interviews, interactive maps of his journey, and artifacts connected to his career and legacy.

Maritime Midwest Modern
A photography exhibit showcasing Great Lakes regional maritime architecture such as lighthouses, boathouses, and dock structures, emphasizing their historical and aesthetic significance.

Other exhibits explore the building of the Illinois and Michigan Canal, the impact of maritime trade on Chicago’s growth, and the environmental challenges faced by the Great Lakes.

Educational Programs and Tours

The museum offers a range of educational initiatives, including:

Guided Tours:
Available by appointment, these tours provide detailed insights into the museum’s collections and Chicago’s maritime history. Weekday tours require at least one week’s advance booking; weekend tours require two weeks.

First Friday Free Tours:
On the first Friday of every month at 1 PM, the museum offers free guided tours, though reservations are recommended due to limited space.

Workshops and Lectures:
The museum hosts occasional talks and workshops about maritime history, shipbuilding, navigation techniques, and preservation efforts.

Visitor Information

Location:
The museum is located at 1200 W 35th Street, River Level, inside the Bridgeport Art Center in Chicago’s Bridgeport neighborhood. The entrance is on the north side of the building, near 34th Place and Racine Avenue.

Hours:
Open Tuesday through Sunday from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Closed on Mondays and major holidays.

Admission:

Adults: $10

Students (with valid ID): $5

Seniors (65+), Military personnel, and Teachers (with valid ID): Free

Children under 12: Free

Museum members: Free

Accessibility:
The museum provides wheelchair access via ramps and elevators. Free parking is available in the Bridgeport Art Center’s north parking lot.

Getting There

By Public Transit:

Red Line: Get off at 35th/Sox station, then take Bus #35 for 9 stops to 35th and Racine. The museum is a short walk from the stop.

Orange Line: Get off at Ashland station, then take Bus #9 for 3 stops to Ashland and 35th, followed by a 10-minute walk.

By Car:
Free parking is available on-site in the Bridgeport Art Center’s north lot.

Why Visit?

The Chicago Maritime Museum offers a unique window into an essential but often overlooked chapter of Chicago’s history. It connects visitors to the city’s waterways, the people who worked on them, and the role these waters played in shaping the modern metropolis. Whether interested in maritime disasters, naval exploration, industrial shipping, or regional architecture, visitors find engaging exhibits and well-curated stories that highlight Chicago’s vital link to the Great Lakes.

The museum’s blend of artifacts, multimedia displays, and community stories makes it an educational and inspiring destination for history buffs, students, families, and anyone curious about the maritime world’s influence on urban life.