Chicago Maritime Museum facts for kids
| Established | June 2016 |
|---|---|
| Location | 1200 W 35th St, Chicago, IL 60609 |
The Chicago Maritime Museum is a special place that teaches us about Chicago's history with boats, rivers, and lakes. It shows how important Lake Michigan and the Chicago River were in helping Chicago grow into a big, important city. The museum also remembers how the U.S. Congress helped Illinois by giving it land along the lake back in 1818. This museum first opened its doors in June 2016.
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Chicago's Water History
Chicago's water history became very important during the "Golden Age" of American steamboats. Before and during the Civil War, small but fast "palace steamers" carried people and goods across the Great Lakes to Chicago. At the same time, canal boats traveled along the new Illinois and Michigan Canal. This canal connected Chicago to the Illinois River and even the Mississippi.
How Waterways Helped Chicago Grow
Water transportation helped Chicago recover quickly after the Great Chicago Fire in 1871. In 1872, Chicago's ship docking operations were busier than any other port in the United States. This shows how important its waterways were for trade and growth.
Changes in Water Travel
In the 1900s, Chicago's water heritage faced challenges as diesel-powered trucks became more popular. City planners, like architect Daniel Burnham, created the 1909 Plan of Chicago. This plan led to many dockside buildings being torn down. Much of the downtown dock area was rebuilt as Wacker Drive. Today, people hope for a new era of Chicago's water history. This time, it focuses on fancy homes and fun activities along the waterways.
About the Museum
The Chicago Maritime Society started collecting items in 1982. In the 1980s, the Society briefly opened a temporary museum. In its early years, the Society worked closely with divers who explored Lake Michigan. The Society kept growing its collection, gathering over 6,000 items related to maritime history.
Museum Location and Focus
In the early 2000s, the Society opened its current museum on Chicago's South Side. The museum is located next to the South Fork of the South Branch of the Chicago River, often called Bubbly Creek. Because of its riverside spot, the museum looks at all parts of Chicago's water heritage. Its website says it celebrates not just the main lake and river, but also industrial Lake Calumet. It also includes the city's beaches, deep tunnels, and pumping stations.
Bridgeport Neighborhood Connection
The museum's location in Bridgeport honors the neighborhood's history. Bridgeport began with Chicago's Irish American canal-digging navvies. These workers were a key part of the city's maritime story. The Chicago Maritime Museum is at 1200 West 35th Street. There is a fee to enter the museum.
Groups Working with the Museum
The Underwater Archeological Society of Chicago (UASC) is a separate group. It was started by divers who helped create the Chicago Maritime Society. These divers worked within the original Society to support projects, like documenting the schooner David Dows. The UASC still works closely with the Chicago Maritime Society today.
See also
