Chicago Maritime Museum facts for kids
| Established | June 2016 |
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| 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's a museum and a group of people who love learning about Chicago's water traditions. The museum believes that Lake Michigan and the Chicago River were super important for Chicago to become a big, famous city. They also thank the U.S. Congress for giving land along the lake to Illinois way back in 1818. The museum first opened its doors in June 2016.
Chicago's Watery Past
Chicago's history with boats and water travel was really big during the "Golden Age" of the American steamboat. Before and during the American Civil War, fast steamboats carried people and goods across the Great Lakes to Chicago. At the same time, special canal boats traveled along the new Illinois and Michigan Canal. This canal connected Chicago to the Illinois River and even the mighty Mississippi River.
Water transportation helped Chicago recover quickly after the terrible Great Chicago Fire in 1871. In fact, in 1872, more ships docked in Chicago than in any other port in the United States!
Later, in the 1900s, trucks powered by diesel became more popular. This meant less focus on Chicago's water heritage. City planners, like Daniel Burnham with his 1909 Plan of Chicago, changed many dockside areas. Old warehouses were torn down, and parts of the downtown docks became Wacker Drive. Today, many hope to see Chicago's water history become important again. This time, it's more about fancy homes and fun activities along the waterways.
What You'll Find at the Museum
The Chicago Maritime Society started collecting items in 1982. In the 1980s, they even had a small, temporary museum. In those early years, they worked closely with divers who explored Lake Michigan. Over time, the Society gathered more than 6,000 items that show Chicago's water history.
In the early 2000s, the Society opened a museum on Chicago's South Side. The museum is right next to a part of the Chicago River called the South Fork, which is also known as Bubbly Creek. Because of its location, the museum explores all parts of Chicago's water story. This includes not just the main lake and river, but also industrial areas like Lake Calumet. They also celebrate the city's beaches, deep tunnels, and pumping stations.
The museum is in the Bridgeport neighborhood. This area has a special connection to Chicago's water history because it was home to many Irish American "navvies" who dug the canals. The Chicago Maritime Museum is located at 1200 West 35th Street. You need to pay a fee to enter.
Friends of 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 to support projects, like documenting the old schooner David Dows. The UASC still works with the Chicago Maritime Society today.
See also
