10:00 AM - 4:30 PM:

History Over the Horizon with Kris Habermehl, WBBM-TV
Join Emmy award winning Chicago radio and television helicopter reporter Kris Habermehl for the story of Great Lakes shipping in the Chicago and Calumet area as seen from the air. Ride along with WBBM's "Chopper 2" as it provides a stable and spectacular place to view classic examples of Chicago's maritime history just "over the horizon." Rare historic, footage is also included. Ships, some dating back to the turn of the century, continue to ply the waters of mighty Lake Michigan as they have since the industrial revolution. But time and economy have taken their toll. Some won't be here forever. See them while you can.

Schooner Passage with Ted Karamanski, Chicago Maritime Society/ Loyola University.
Schooners were as important to the settlement of the Great Lakes region as covered wagons or railroads were to the settlement of the far West. This slide lecture explores the role of sailing ships on the Lake Michigan frontier and reveals the lives of men and women who served before the mast. Theodore Karamanski is Professor of History at Loyola University in Chicago. He is the author of numerous books and articles including Schooner Passage and Maritime Chicago.

Discovery of the Great West: The Marquette-Jolliet Expedition with Ralph Frese, Chicago Maritime Society.
The story of the 300th anniversary re-enactment of Marquette-Jolliet's discovery of the Illinois and the Chicago portage. Ralph is a board member of the Chicago Maritime Society and is the founder, owner, and operator of the Chicagoland Canoe Base. His small craft collection (of over 100 vessels) is a feature of the Chicago Maritime Society's collections.

Weather Forecasting with Amy Seeley, National Weather Service
See and hear what goes into a forecast and how mariners as well as landlubbers can find the most accurate information. Amy Seeley is the Port Meteorological Officer with the National Weather Service in Illinois.

The Chicago Police Marine Unit with Earl Zuelke
Meet the man who heads up the unit that boaters turn to when things go wrong. Learn how the Marine Police Unit works with other agencies, such as the Coast Guard and ICON, to deal with marine problems before they happen. Topics include boating safety, homeland security, and what's in store for the waterfront in Chicago next season. A must for anyone who spends time on the water in Chicago.

Illustration Techniques with Remy Champt, marine artist
After studying art in his native Belgium, Remy Champt chose instead to pursue a career on the water. He sailed around the world on merchant ships and in 1980 moved to Traverse City, Michigan where he continues to pursue his career as an artist and illustrator and serve as engineer aboard classic freighters and tugs. He is also one of the captains of the schooner Inland Seas. With his meticulous attention to detail, he is able to authentically document these fascinating vessels in works that will, someday, become part of the Great Lakes' unique maritime history.

The Lost WWII Naval Planes of Lake Michigan with Taras Lyssenko.
From the mid 1980s to the mid 1990s Allan Olson and Taras Lyssenko (A. and T. Recovery) surveyed the southern basin of Lake Michigan in search of the US Department of the Navy's lost airplanes from the Aircraft Carrier Qualification Training of World War II. What they found went beyond their wildest expectations, including shipwrecks, an early Holocene Forest and the UC-97 U-boat. Join Taras Lyssenko in an interactive presentation of an adventure of Lake Michigan discovery.

From Crib to Grave with Tony Kiefer
Have you ever walked along the Lake Michigan shore and wondered what those strange structures are three miles out in the water? Join Tony Kiefer, diver, engineer and past president of the Underwater Archaeological Society of Chicago, for a fascinating look at the history and underwater archaeology of the Chicago water intake cribs. See the remains of an abandoned crib as it exists today deep below the surface of Lake Michigan and learn its terrible secret!

Tall Ships Chicago: Then and Now with Jim Jarecki and Cris Kohl
The magnificent sight of schooners, brigs, barquentines and full rigged ships seen last Summer during Tall Ships Chicago was an echo of the heyday of sail on the Great Lakes. During the late 19th century, 1,600 to 2,000 tall ships sailed the Lakes and made Chicago one of the busiest ports in the world. Cris Kohl and Jim Jarecki provide a glimpse into that past, as well as images from the late 20th and early 21st century that will bring back the romance of sail; as well as some harsh realities.

Crossroads of Disaster: The Straits of Mackinac Shipwrecks with Cris Kohl and Joan Forsberg
Join authors, divers, and historians Cris Kohl and Joan Forsberg for a look at one of the most dangerous places in the Great Lakes. The Straits of Mackinac, a very historic area popular with tourists, boaters, and scuba divers alike, is one of Michigan's 10 underwater preserves and is home to wrecks like the pre-Civil War schooner J.H. Tiffany, the wooden steamer Leviathan, and the 588 foot steel freighter Cedarville.

Launching a Legacy: Friends Good Will with Jim Spurr, Michigan Maritime Museum
The Michigan Maritime Museum is launching an amazing project: designing building, and operating an historical replica tall ship. The original sloop' s final voyage, as a merchant ship, saw her departing Ft. Dearborn to Fort Mackinac, where she was captured by the British Royal Navy. She was the sloop mentioned in Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry's famous dispatch, "We have met the enemy and they are ours: two ships, two brigs, one schooner, and one sloop." Find out what lies in store for this modern tall ship.

Wooden Boats vs Plastic: A Debate Between the Diehards and the Converts
Join Bob Zange and members of the Heritage Boat Club to find out why wooden boat lovers are so dedicated to their vessels and why some have succumbed to the seduction of fiberglass.

History of the Chicago River with Joni Marin, Friends of the Chicago River
Join Joni Marin of the Friends of the Chicago River for a look at the turbulent history of Chicago's great waterway from a physical, social, and political, and ecological point of view.

Proving the River: Rowing and Paddling in Chicago with Susan K.B. Urbas and Jonathon R. Genzen
An introduction to the historical context of rowing and paddling in Chicago as well as the local organizations that provide equipment access to the public. Safety tips and logistics for navigating the downtown waterway, and a glimpse at plans for increasing access to the river and the creation of a Boating Center for rowing, canoeing, and kayaking on the Chicago River.

Equipment for Your Boat with Curt Schumacher, US Coast Guard Auxiliary
This seminar will cover the legal equipment required for your boat and additional items that are extremely helpful. Equipment for both sailboats and powerboats will be discussed.

What is the US Maritime Administration? with Doris Bautch, MARAD
Come and find out what MARAD does and what it can do for you.

Getting Started in Model Ships and Boat Building with Kurt Van Dahm
This presentation will assist you in finding out what you need to know about getting started building models of boats or ships so that you can successfully build the model of your dreams. There will be ample time at the end of the presentation for questions and answers. Kurt is a professional model builder and author, contributing editor for Ships In Scale Magazine, president of the Nautical Research & Model Ship Society of Chicago, a director of the Nautical Research Guild, air brush consultant for Badger Air-Brush Company and a founding partner in Pacific Tall Ships Co. and Gallery headquartered in Lemont, IL and Manila, Philippines.

Possibilities for Disabilities with Sean Koughlin, Diveheart
The Diveheart Foundation is committed to serving physically impaired children and adults- giving them the opportunities and experiences, through the sport of Scuba diving, that can build the confidence and independence that will last a lifetime. This seminar looks at a trip by children (ages 13-19) from the Shriners Hospital, in Chicago, to Key Largo, Florida.

Women at Sea with the Johnson Girls
A look at the lives of women who went to sea, and the ones who stayed ashore, during the heyday of sail through the ballads and forecastle tunes of their time.

Songs of Fighting Sail with Bob Zentz and Tom Lewis
Come ye all fans of Patrick O'Brian and hear the songs that should have been in the movie! Join Tom and Bob for a look at the ballads that captured life aboard a British man of war.

Instruments That Went to Sea with Steve Roys, Bob Zentz, and Tom & Chris Kastle
Sailing music was, by its nature, the first "world music." Come see and hear a portion of the many instruments, and the stories behind them, that found themselves aboard ships throughout the years.

Squeezebox Workshop with Bob Zentz, Steve Roys, Tom Kastle, and Tom Lewis.
The humble and noble instruments closely associated with the sea. Concertinas, button accordions, and more; a veritable free reed mini-festival!

Contemporary Sea Songs with Tom Lewis and Tom & Chris Kastle
The singing of sea music was not something that ended with the clipper ships. Join Tom, Chris and Tom for a look at songs based on traditional melodies and others that are becoming part of the tradition.

Forecastle Tunes with the Johnson Girls, Don Sineti, and Steve Roys
The forecastle (pronounced folk' sl) was the place where the crew lived "before the mast." The songs and stories that lived with them told of life at sea as well as all the longing for life ashore and loved ones left behind.

Marlinspike Seamanship with Dan Kasberger and the US Coast Guard Auxiliary
Fancy knots, hitches, splices and bends with Dan and the members of Flotilla 12.

Let's Draw, Sing, and Learn About Whales with Don Sineti
Come to the Crown Room North for a hands-on look at whales through the arts with Don Sineti. Open to all ages.

Model Boat Building for Kids with the Chicago Maritime Society
Cut the sails, step the mast, tune the rig, or build a tug or steamer with wood and found materials. Models are limited; come early!

Songs for Younger Sailors with Don Sineti, Tom & Chris Kastle, and Dierdre Murtha
Songs and stories of the sea for children of all ages.

Shanties from the Seven Seas
A short shanty sing with the featured performers, special guest artists and you!
Call 773-774-7216 for more details.