Great Lakes! Great Wrecks! with Cris Kohl and Joan Forsberg

Exciting historical research plus underwater explorations of the best shipwrecks in all five of the Great Lakes, from the schooner Annie Falconer in Lake Ontario to the steamer America at Isle Royale in Lake Superior. Based in part on Kohl.s article in Skin Diver Magazine, and his newly revised and updated books, The 100 Best Great Lakes Shipwrecks, Volumes I and II. Joan, who hold a degree in history, has been the Chairman of the .Shipwrecks and our Marine Heritage. Room at Chicago.s annual .Our World . Underwater. Show since 1996, is the author of the .Diver.s Guide to the Kitchen.. Her writing has also appeared in Immersed and Wreck Diving magazines. Cris, a prize-winning underwater photographer with a Master.s Degree in History, is a Past President of the Underwater Archaeological Society of Chicago. He has written ten books about Great Lakes shipwrecks, including the bestselling The Great Lakes Diving Guide and the recently updated and revised two-volume set, The 100 Best Great Lakes Shipwrecks. He has appeared on numerous television programs, including on the History Channel, the Discovery Channel, and CBS-Chicago. His newest book is Shipwreck Tales of the Great Lakes.

When Strauss isn't playing with boats he is a Senior Economist and Economic Advisor in the research department at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, which he joined in 1982. His chief responsibilities include analyzing the current performance of both the Midwest economy and the manufacturing sector for use in monetary policy. Strauss also teaches Economics at the University of Chicago, Graham School of General Studies.

Joshua Slocum: The First Cruiser with Bill Strauss

Captain Slocum commanded some of the finest tall ships that ever sailed the seas. On April 24, 1895, broke and 51 years old, he departed Boston in his tiny sloop Spray, a decrepit oyster dredger that he rebuilt himself. He sailed around the world single-handed, a passage of 46,000 miles, returning to Newport, Rhode Island on June 27, 1898. This historic achievement made him the patron saint of small-boat voyagers, navigators and adventurers all over the world. Despite leaving school after the third grade, he became an accomplished writer. His dry wit, wry humor and Yankee observations about nature led some to call him a "sea-locked Thoreau". His book Sailing Alone Around the World, published in 1900, has been translated into many languages and has never been out of print. Bill Strauss will "introduce" you to Joshua Slocum and take the audience through several of the most celebrated parts of the voyage sharing several items from Strauss. personal Joshua Slocum collection. William Strauss has been a boat owner who has been sailing on Lake Michigan since 1984. He has been a member of the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary since 1992, serving as Flotilla Commander for the downtown Chicago unit, leading it to be recognized as the most active flotilla in the Ninth District, Western Region. He has also served as the District.s Public Education Officer, being presented the Most Effective District Staff Officer Award. He has also won first place for Public Education Instructor numerous times. He has taught all the classes offered by the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary. He is a founding member of the Chicago Maritime Festival and acts as one of its associate directors. He is an active member of the Joshua Slocum Society International.

John Loftus' Seminar on Tugs

John Loftus uses words and pictures to give a history of tugs and workboats on Chicago's lakefront and inland waterways. Their contribution is significant in the development of the city. He will also take us on an up close and personal tour of the submerged remains of some tugs that have been located on the bottom of Lake Michigan. John is a Great Lakes diver and vice president of the Underwater Archaeological Society of Chicago.

Massacre and Mayhem on the Great Lakes: The War of 1812 with Cobie Ball and Jim Spurr

The Fort Dearborn Massacre, conceivably one of the most horrific incidents to take place in Chicago, marked the beginning of brutal events on the Great Lakes in connection with the War of 1812. The merchant sloop turned man-o-war, Friends Good Will, was witness to the pivotal events of this struggle to defend the American frontier. Through the experiences of Friends Good Will, learn the Great Lakes role in the War of 1812 . the challenges, the feats and failures, and the impact on the people of the Great Lakes region. Images, illustrations, and maps will help to illustrate the turbulent times and course of the War of 1812 on the Great Lakes. The historic replica ship, Friends Good Will, now plies the waters of the Great Lakes. Owned and operated by the Michigan Maritime Museum in South Haven for educational programming, you can become involved in maritime and sailing experiences that distinguish Friends Good Will as the flag ship of living history. Applications for the volunteer Ship.s Company will be available. Jim Spurr is a US Coast Guard licensed master and Cobie Ball is the curator of Collections and Exhibits at the Michigan Maritime Museum

Seagoing Artist with Eric Forsberg

Join Eric Forsberg for a look at his own maritime art and the striking images that result from going to sea. One of Chicago's own, Eric was born in 1959 and still resides in the Chicago area. At an early age his interest in painting grew and after attending the American Academy of Art, Eric studied with maritime greats Charles Vickery and Thomas Hoyne III. He also took to the sea himself aboard sailing vessels and worked as a lobsterman in Maine. Eric is well known for capturing the moods of ocean views with an eye for detail as well as a painterly touch. His work focuses on the Atlantic Ocean, shorelines, lobster boats, fishing trawlers and tall ships.

History Over the Horizon with Kris Habermehl WBBM TV

Join award winning Chicago radio and television 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 traffic famous helicopter, "Chopper 780", as it provides a spectacular place to view examples of Chicago's maritime history just "over the horizon". Rare historic footage is also included. Kris is a lifelong Chicagoan who has been flying since the mid 70's. An early interest in aviation combined with a penchant for local history (especially maritime history) has enabled him to make stories come alive from his post aboard "Chopper 780". He has been on the air since 1992 when he joined Shadow Traffic. Reporting on traffic tie-ups and breaking news led to stints at several Chicago radio stations and also to his longtime assignment with sister station, WBBM-TV (CBS2). Recipient of a regional Emmy for his television reporting, Kris is also the color commentator for WBBM's annual coverage of the Chicago Air & Water Show.

Friends of the Chicago River: 25 Years and Flowing with Joni Marin

The mission of the Friends of the Chicago River is to preserve, protect, and foster the vitality of the Chicago River for the plant, animal, and human communities within its watershed. They achieve this mission through 3 program areas: Education Programs that foster awareness, involvement, and stewardship ethic; On-the-Ground Projects that physically improve the quality of the Chicago River, and Policy and Planning Efforts that result in systematic river improvements. Join the Friends Education Coordinator Joni Marin for highlights of FOCR's last 25 years of service to Chicago's Second Shoreline and hopes for the next 25 years.

Weather Forecasting with Amy Seeley

Mariners and landlubber alike will learn much about what goes into a weather forecast. Amy is the Port Meteorological Officer of the Great Lakes and has been with the National Weather Service for 15 years. She graduated from Northern Illinois University with a degree in meteorology in 1992 and has received an NWS award for her presentations at the Chicago Maritime Festival.

Chicagoland's Coast Guard with Herbert "Jim" Harmon

Join "Jim" Harmon, Commanding Officer at US Coast Guard Stations Calumet Harbor and Chicago Marine Safety Station, for a look at the history of Chicago's Coast Guard, from Wilmette Harbor to Calumet Harbor, starting from the days of the Life Saving Service. This unique Coast Guard perspective of activities includes highlights of some of the more daring rescues, tragedies, and oddities encountered by the area's Coast Guard.

The Christmas Tree Ship with Rochelle Pennington

Join author Rochelle Pennington for a look at Capt. Herman Schuenemann, also known as Capt. Santa, and most famous of the Christmas Tree ships, the schooner Rouse Simmons, which was lost in the Winter of 1912. Rochelle, a freelance author and newspaper columnist, has penned The Christmas Tree Ship: The Story of Captain Santa, which featured the marine artwork of the late Charles Vickery, and The Historic Christmas Tree Ship: A True Story of Faith, Hope, and Love. Other works include Chicken Soup for the Soul, Don't Sweat the Small Stuff, and Stories for the Heart.

The Art of Ship in a Bottle with Glenn Braun

Learn the art and technique of this centuries old craft from a master along with other ship model building tips and demonstrations.

Glenn Braun built his first ship model at age six and has since built models professionally most of his adult life. With hundreds of models, ships-in-the-bottle, wood carvings,and other maritime related arts to his credit, Glenn's work can be seen in museums and private collections all over the globe. After almost twenty years at the South Street Seaport Museum in New York City, Glenn has recently relocated to the Chicago area, wading into the rich traditions of the Great Lakes, the Mississippi, and other waterways of the Midwest.

The Diver as Artist with Michael Angelo Gagliardi

"If you haven't surveyed it, you haven't dived it" are words that Michael Angelo Gagliardi lives by. For him art is a form of survey, a mirror to reflect back an event or observation; be it an historical event such as a shipwreck or a geological formation as an underwater cave, or assorted marine flora and fauna. Drawing, for Michael, adds another layer to dive site survey besides cartography and photography.

The seminar will focus on Michael Angelo's experience as a diver and an artist and will explore techniques of bringing the "Wet World" to the surface including drawing from memory, on site on mylar, and from photo montage.

Michael Angelo Gagliardi was born in New York City in 1962 to Irish and Italian Parents. He received a B.F.A. in painting and sculpture and a M.A. in Theatrical Design from C.W. College of Long Island University in 1985. He became a certified scuba diver in 1996 and has since received certifications in technical diving. Michael Angelo has a particular fascination with the caves and springs of Florida and the shipwrecks of the Great Lakes. His was honored when he was chosen to be a diver/artist aboard the 2002 USS Monitor expedition which raised the gun turret. He has, since 1989, lived in Chicago where he works as a Stagehand doing sets, lights and props for Broadway Musicals. He has a non-diving wife and two children who continue to be entertained by his stories from a "Wet World".

Chicago Shipwrecks and Nautical Archaeological Techniques with Jim Jarecki and Roger Barski

Join Jim and Roger for an overview of the various kinds of submerged cultural resources that lay beneath the waters off Chicago including coral reefs, ancient forests, schooners, steamers and even submarines. Followed by a discussion of the underwater archaeological techniques used to discover and study these resources.

Jim is an amateur historian and underwater photographer. He holds degrees in philosophy, physiology and business management and owns an industrial graphics company in Indiana. Jim is also the President of the Underwater Archaeological Society of Chicago

Roger J. Barski started his photography career shooting weddings for a small Southside studio in Chicago during the early 1970's. He later opened his own commercial photography studio, and taught basic and advanced photography courses Chicago's Daley College.

He moved into the motion picture production field in 1980 after graduating from the Community Film Workshop of Chicago and immediately began working on independent film projects, industrial films, television commercials, and major motion pictures. Roger produced and directed his first motion picture, CHAINS, that was released worldwide to theaters, video, and laser disk in 1990. He retired in 2005 and currently devotes his time working in underwater archaeology with the Underwater Archaeological Society of Chicago (UASC).

The Venturesome Voyages of J.C. Voss with Ralph Frese

This presentation has been cancelled.

The Eastland Disaster with Jay Bonansinga

Come join the author the Chicago Tribune calls "one of the most imaginative writer's of thrillers" as he demonstrates why truth is indeed stranger than fiction in the case of the doomed excursion vessel the S.S. Eastland. Jay's 2005 non-fiction narrative book THE SINKING OF THE EASTLAND: AMERICA'S FORGOTTEN TRAGEDY (Kensington Books) was a CHICAGO READER Critic's Choice, and won the Illinois State Historical Society's Certificate of Superior Achievement. Among other things, Jay will discuss the 'mythologizing' of this important Chicago maritime disaster, as well as read brief excerpts from the book.

Model Boat Building - From A to Z with Kurt van Dahm

You may be someone who has always wanted to build a model boat but have never gotten around to it. Or, perhaps, you have started a model or two but have never seen it through; this is the seminar for you. Topics covered include how to get started, picking a subject, selecting a kit, building the model, how to display your completed model, and how to find other model builders including model ship clubs throughout the Chicago area.

Kurt Van Dahm lives in Westmont, IL and is a professional model builder. He is also a contributing editor to Ships in Scale Magazine and has authored many articles on how to build a model ship and related modeling subjects. Kurt is the president of the Nautical Research & Model Ship Society of Chicago, a director of the Nautical Research Guild, and member of the Chicago Maritime Society, Midwest Model Shipwrights, and the North Shore Deadeyes.

He is Badger Air-Brush Company's Marine Hobby Consultant and developer of their Modelflex Marine Paints and teaches air brushing techniques to model builders for Badger. He was a founding partner in Pacific Tall Ships Co. and Gallery headquartered in Lemont, IL and Manila, PI. PTS employed 50+ Manila residents building highly detailed sailing ship models that are owned by many heads of state, CEO.s and model ship collectors.

The National Archives in Chicago with Martin Tuohy

Perhaps the largest collection of unique, original historical documents about Great Lakes maritime life and commerce can be found in Chicago at the National Archives and Records Administration-Great Lakes Region. Historical records created or received by U.S. Government agencies such as the U.S. Coast Guard, the Bureau of Marine Inspection and Navigation, the U.S. Customs Service, and Great Lakes Naval Training Station are available for public research use at the National Archives-Great Lakes Region. Admiralty case records of the United States District Courts from Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Minnesota contain evidence about disputes and controversies on navigable waterways as far back as 1815. Handwritten and typed documents, maps, photographs, and charts were created by U.S. Government workers during the course of daily business.

A National Archives-Great Lakes Region staff archivist will offer a short workshop about using federal records for research into the history of sailing and steam ships, sailors, the transportation of commodities and finished products over the water, and the transportation of people by excursion vessels and railroad car ferries. Archivists will also be on hand to discuss resources and research throughout the day. Motivated grade school students, high school students, and adults who are new to the methods of historical research are especially encouraged to attend. Get ready for your visit by visiting www.archives.gov/great-lakes/chicago or calling (773) 948-9001

The Chicago Police Marine Unit with Lt. Steve Georgas

Meet the new head of the Marine Police Unit and discover how the they work, alone and with other agencies, along the shore of Chicago. They deal all sorts of marine problems and work with other agencies to solve problems on the water even before they happen. If you spend any time on or near the water in Chicago you will want to know these people.

The Great Lakes: Vital, Valuable and... Vulnerable? with Melanie Napoleon of the Shedd Aquarium

Yes, the Great Lakes are all these things. We all have a responsibility to protect, conserve, and restore the Great Lakes, not for a single interest, but for our families, wildlife and the future. Melanie, the manager of the Great Lakes Awareness Campaign at the John G. Shedd Aquarium, will discuss the major threats facing the Lakes right now, and what we can all do to help them remain a vital part of our quality of life in this region.

The Fox Island Lighthouse Association with John Nelson

The South Fox Island lighthouse was built in 1867 on the southern tip of the island. The island lies about 16 1/2 miles north-northwest of Cathead Point, Northport at the tip of Leelanau County, Michigan, making it the most isolated island in Lake Michigan. The USCG abandoned the light, and left it to decay in 1959.

The Fox Island Association FILA - a non-profit 501 (c) 3 organization - was formed in September of 2004 with the sole desire to work with the state of Michigan in restoring this historic property. They have assembled an association of many key people who plan to work side-by-side with us to reach this goal.

John Nelson is a sixth generation Northporter with strong ties to the light and to Leelanau County. His great uncle was lightkeeper on South Fox Island and his grandfather was lightkeeper on nearby North Manitou Island. John is a graduate of the Annapolis Naval Academy, a Navy Veteran and Baykeeper (R) for the Watershed Center in Traverse City, MI.

Tall Ships with Patricia Lock

Ms. Lock will present a photo discussion on the 20+ visiting ships for Tall Ships Chicago arriving on August 3. The fleet of historic, attraction and environmental vessels as well as a few film stars will come from the East Coast, Great Lakes, Canada and the Cook Islands. Returning to Chicago will be the 176' Barque PICTON CASTLE, who is sailing around the world right now, and the U.S. Brig Niagara, of Erie, PA, the largest ship in the fleet at 198' and a historic replica of Admiral Hazard Perry's victorious vessel from the 1813 Battle of Lake Erie. A new member of the fleet is the Sloop Providence who recently appeared in Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest which will be in theaters in July. Additional information on the event or how to volunteer can be picked up at the Tall Ships Chicago booth or on-line at www.tallshipschicago.net.

Patricia Lock has specialized in event marketing for over 30 years. She has produced a variety of events ranging from Luciano Pavarotti on New Year's Eve, the Arlington Million, and Kodak's Millennium celebration at Navy Pier. In 1998, as a new member of Navy Pier's Marketing Department, Ms. Lock's first assignment was to bring the historic sailing vessels known as "tall ships" to Chicago. She's been working with ships ever since. In 2000, she started her own company, Great Lakes Marketing Group, to promote tall ships through port appearances, maritime festivals and youth education. Now a veteran of many Parades of Sail, she is recruiting the 2006 fleet for the American Sail Training Association's Tall Ships Challenge® Great Lakes 2006 for Chicago, Green Bay and Cleveland.

Mari Time Machines: Classic Great Lakes Boats with Toby Lindo

Captain Toby Lindo, former Commodore of the Heritage Boat Club, will review the history and the future of two of the oldest yachts moored in Chicago, The Robert Allan II, and Wild Goose. Robert Allan II is the oldest power boat moored in Chicago, launched in 1936 from the Grebe Yard. Wild Goose, a 47' Schooner, was designed by Walter McInnis, and built by Ben Colby in Gloucester, Mass.

Robert Allan II was the platform for the documentary shown on Channel 11 - WTTW in December. She may be the oldest Grebe still floating. Two new yacht clubs have been established limited to a membership of twenty each, with the purpose of preserving these vessels for posterity. Learn how these boats have been saved from the boneyard, while so many others have been lost forever.

The Most Affordable Way to Sail in Chicago with Ellen Reeve and Sail Chicago

Lake Michigan may be Chicago.s finest feature. A great way to take advantage of this is to participate in the instruction program and activities of Sail Chicago. As a non profit volunteer administered organization, Sail Chicago has been operating in Monroe Harbor for thirty five years plus. Learn about what ways this organization can get you out on the lake while keeping costs down with sweat equity.

The History of Chicago's Lakefront and Harbors with Bill Rossberger

Join historian and yachtsman Bill Rossberger for a look at the story of the Lakefront; from shoreline to landfill; from Fort Dearborn to the massive rebuilding after the Great Chicago Fire and the Burnham Plan. If you would like learn the story of our home port, plan to attend!

A Chicago Maritime Museum with Jerry Thomas

The time is ripe for the development of a Chicago Maritime Museum on the Lake front to display Chicago's rich maritime history. Join sailor and CMS board member Jerry Thomas for a look at this heritage

Schooner to Chicago: Great Lakes Passenger Travel in the Era of Sail with Ted Karamanski

Steam ships eclipsed schooners in the passenger trade shortly after the introduction of steam technology. Nonetheless, the fact sailing vessels were so common on the lakes insured that they would still play a role in bringing settlers and immigrants to Old Northwest frontier. This talk will utilize the memoirs of early 19th century travelers to present the trials and delights of maritime transport. Come aboard for obnoxious fellow travelers, foul food, and dangerous storms!