Chicago Maritime Museum
Chicago Maritime Museum
4.5
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
About
At the Chicago Maritime Museum, on the shores of Bubbly Creek in Bridgeport, discover how our waterways shaped Chicago into the city it is today. Dive into our collection of artifacts and art to learn about everything from historic canoes, to the Eastland Disaster, to Lake Michigan's role during WWII. Set sail for Chicago history!
Duration: 1-2 hours
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
25 reviews
Excellent
19
Very good
4
Average
1
Poor
0
Terrible
1
AvWriter
Rochelle, IL866 contributions
Oct 2022
We stopped in during Open House Chicago 2022. First off, access to this is on the NORTH side of the building, not the south side.
Once you get inside, you'll be amazed at what they have. Anchors, a completed, detailed review of the Eastland ship disaster including pictures and analyses, and tons of boating stuff.
The staff is extremely knowledgeable, and can answer any questions you may have related to the museum or the exhibits.
We were very surprised about the amount of information that was available in the museum.
Make sure you check out the gift shop if you are into boating - they had quite a variety of things that might interest you.
Plan an hour to review this museum. Free parking on the north side of the building by the way. The entrance is towards the west side, and you go down to get to it.
Once you get inside, you'll be amazed at what they have. Anchors, a completed, detailed review of the Eastland ship disaster including pictures and analyses, and tons of boating stuff.
The staff is extremely knowledgeable, and can answer any questions you may have related to the museum or the exhibits.
We were very surprised about the amount of information that was available in the museum.
Make sure you check out the gift shop if you are into boating - they had quite a variety of things that might interest you.
Plan an hour to review this museum. Free parking on the north side of the building by the way. The entrance is towards the west side, and you go down to get to it.
Written October 17, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Taylor B
Chicago, IL8,498 contributions
Aug 2024 • Couples
Bet you never thought of Chicago as one of the busiest ports in the world. Guess again. The mission of the Chicago Maritime Museum, which was founded in 2016 with a mission to become recognized as the leading authority on our waterways and their significance to Chicago and the world in the past, present and future. Located at 1200 West 35th Street, at 35th and Racine Avenue, on the shore of Bubbly Creek, on the Chicago River level of the Bridgeport Art Center, this 10,000-square-foot museum contains more than 6,000 items of tangible maritime heritage and serves as a window into Chicago's maritime history. It offers a chronological walk through local maritime history, from a peak during the Golden Age of the American steamboat, including the eras of French fur traders, sail an steam-powered vessels, modern commercial Great Lakes frigates, recreational sailing and the Ralph and Rita Frese canoe collection. Board and explore the vessels to find out what life was like on them many years ago. You will learn that, at varying times, Chicago has been the busiest port or one of the busiest ports in the world, a strategic location with access to the St. Lawrence Seaway and the Atlantic Ocean as well as the waters that radiate to the Mississippi River and the Gulf of Mexico. The museum's Bridgeport location pays tribute to the South Side neighborhood that began with Chicago's Irish-American, canal-dinning navies, a key support group within the city's maritime history.
Written August 10, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
StorytellerG
Chicago, IL1 contribution
Mar 2017 • Solo
Chicago's growth is in large part based on it's maritime history. The Chicago Maritime Museum is the only place in the city that tells this story. If you like boats or history, or both, you're going to love the CMM!
This relatively small, brand new museum interprets nearly every decade of Chicago's waterborne trade and transportation with fresh displays, clear interpretation, compelling stories and objects large and small from the river and the lake (in Chicago there's only one of each!).
Just as interesting as what's inside the museum is the setting it's in. Bridgeport is an ancient neighborhood, as neighborhoods go in Chicago. But it's current revival from a place full of empty old warehouses and dead factories to one of the liveliest hotspots of art, culture and diversity makes a visit to the CMM even more of a deep Chicago experience than a visit to many of the City's larger museums. The big downtown museums may have more stunning views of the skyline but they are isolated from the real Chicago where we live, work, play and celebrate our common history.
This relatively small, brand new museum interprets nearly every decade of Chicago's waterborne trade and transportation with fresh displays, clear interpretation, compelling stories and objects large and small from the river and the lake (in Chicago there's only one of each!).
Just as interesting as what's inside the museum is the setting it's in. Bridgeport is an ancient neighborhood, as neighborhoods go in Chicago. But it's current revival from a place full of empty old warehouses and dead factories to one of the liveliest hotspots of art, culture and diversity makes a visit to the CMM even more of a deep Chicago experience than a visit to many of the City's larger museums. The big downtown museums may have more stunning views of the skyline but they are isolated from the real Chicago where we live, work, play and celebrate our common history.
Written April 21, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for a terrific review - thorough and thoughtful! We very much appreciate it. I would add one note - unlike the big museums, CMM has free parking (in the North lot!)
Written May 2, 2017
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
TomKastle
Madison, WI1 contribution
Jan 2017 • Friends
Last year, a dozen tall ships brought out about a million visitors to Navy Pier, but, in the 1880s, Chicago regularly hosted over 200 tall ships on any given day. Indeed, Chicago has an amazing maritime history that is seldom taught in schools. This museum opens the door to this amazing past from the voyageurs and Chicago canoe legend Ralph Frese to schooner rigging, the Eastland disaster, yacht racing, models, archives, and more. As a maritime folklore person and tall ship sailor, I can't tell you how much this place means to the maritime heritage of Chicago. Bravo!
Written April 21, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your supportive review that is very much appreciated! One of the museum goals is to preserve the maritime culture here, including music and poetry. In that vein, each of the past two third-Friday lectures started with music!
Written May 2, 2017
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Rick R
1 contribution
Apr 2017 • Business
Great Museum easy access with big parking lot. Active exhibits, ship models canoes small sailing craft and archive with references.
Written April 12, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Venegeo
Itasca, IL19 contributions
Jun 2019
Small, but very interesting collection of artifacts and displays relating to maritime history in the Great Lakes. An enjoyable few hours.
Written February 11, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you very much for your review. We were pleased to have you visit!
Written February 12, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Ron R
Oak Lawn, Illinois, United States41 contributions
Jan 2018 • Couples
My wife and I were on our weekly Friday outting which often includes some day hikes during the summer or museums during the winter. As we had an errand on the near South side, I searched travel advisor for a nearby museum. While a bit out of the way for many out of town visitors, it was quite accessible for locals like us.
While not large the museum offers an enlightening perspective on early Chicago's importance as a maritime center with interesting maps and exhibits. We were fortunate in having an impromptu tour by the curator which added some very interesting narrative to the exhibits. Though we are native Chicagoans, we learned a great deal about the part the local waterways and Great Lakes played in the early development of the area.
We highly recommend a visit for anyone wishing to learn about a unique aspect of Chicago's history.
While not large the museum offers an enlightening perspective on early Chicago's importance as a maritime center with interesting maps and exhibits. We were fortunate in having an impromptu tour by the curator which added some very interesting narrative to the exhibits. Though we are native Chicagoans, we learned a great deal about the part the local waterways and Great Lakes played in the early development of the area.
We highly recommend a visit for anyone wishing to learn about a unique aspect of Chicago's history.
Written January 7, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your review which is very much appreciated. Your comments on the value added by the museum are spot on and a fine addition to the other comments. We hope you will come back to visit as other exhibits open and that you check events on the museum's web site for listings of open houses and maritime related lectures.
Written January 8, 2018
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
doug s
2 contributions
Apr 2017 • Friends
Great - Great Lakes and Chicagoland Waterways maritime History and info! It has a nice selection of artifacts on display. A true Chicago treasure.
Written April 21, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Gerald T
1 contribution
Apr 2017 • Friends
Not many people are aware of chicago's long maritime history. This museum brings that history to you with interesting stories supported by relevant artifacts. This is a must see.
Written April 21, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
thatcherw2016
Chicago, Illinois1 contribution
Apr 2017 • Friends
Great small museum that deals with a much overlooked historical fact that Chicago is great maritime city. Lots of good information and stories here. Bubbly Creek does bubble but is home to wildlife and Sculling activity which can be seen right from the CMM landing.
Written April 21, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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