Chicago Maritime Museum image

Chicago Maritime Museum

Tourist attraction Museum Local history museum Maritime museum

👍👍 Incredible museum in a stunning building! The Chicago Maritime Museum is a fantastic history museum and the staff was delightful. I learned so much about the history of the city and the Great Lakes. 10/10 recommend the museum and checking out the entire building - especially the city views on the 5t... People often mention museum, history, Chicago, small, building, maritime,


Address

1200 W 35th St, Chicago, IL 60609

Website

www.chicagomaritimemuseum.org

Contact

(773) 376-1982

Rating on Google Maps

4.70 (73 reviews)

Open on Google Maps

Working Hours

  • Sunday: 10 AM to 4 PM
  • Monday: Closed
  • Tuesday: 10 AM to 4 PM
  • Wednesday: 10 AM to 4 PM
  • Thursday: 10 AM to 4 PM
  • Friday: 10 AM to 4 PM
  • Saturday: 10 AM to 4 PM

Featured Reviews


Frequently mentioned in reviews: museum (25) history (17) Chicago (13) small (7) building (6) maritime (6)
Reviews are sorted by relevance, prioritizing the most helpful and insightful feedback at the top for easier reference.
  • 5/5 David P. 1 month ago on Google • 27 reviews New
    Incredible museum in a stunning building! The Chicago Maritime Museum is a fantastic history museum and the staff was delightful. I learned so much about the history of the city and the Great Lakes. 10/10 recommend the museum and checking out the entire building - especially the city views on the 5th floor!
    8 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Camille R. 1 year ago on Google • 233 reviews
    I didn't get a chance to go it, however I 'window shopped' and what I saw seemed very interesting. I'll definitely come back to tour this Museum. I didn't know it was here.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Monika K. 9 months ago on Google • 37 reviews
    VERY small museum. Worth seeing if you want to learn more about Chicago's history and are in the area.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Marco S. 1 year ago on Google • 131 reviews
    Hidden treasure within the Bridgeport art center. Chicago river canals development and historical and politica decisions are the main areas of interest of this museum. A lot of interesting facts about the city are on display and many artifacts. Defininitely a must see if passing by. It takes about 30 minutes to go through it.

  • 5/5 Jordan D. 2 years ago on Google • 72 reviews
    Great museum documenting the shipping related and naval history of Chicago

  • 5/5 J. H. 1 year ago on Google
    It was a really nice museum. We all loved it. It's smaller, but we learned a lot about Chicago's past.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Kevin C. 9 months ago on Google • 43 reviews
    A hidden gem on Chicago's near Southside. Nice exhibits and riverfront location.

  • 5/5 Gerald O. 7 months ago on Google • 39 reviews
    Great museum in the coolest building ever. We are very glad we toured this. Memory keepsakes are priced very reasonable. Receptionist we great. Fantastic experience.

  • 4/5 Rob G. 6 months ago on Google • 24 reviews
    The museum is fairly small but does have some very interesting exhibits and models... My favorite was USS Wolverine, in World War II training aircraft carrier that I had no idea about. It also has a great exhibit on the Eastland disaster which very few people know about even in Chicago. Though it's a bit of a drive away from downtown, if you are a maritime history buff it's a must see.

  • 5/5 A. H. 5 months ago on Google • 12 reviews
    Well-presented information and exhibitions. Info is good for adults and teens, detailed, accessible to the layman but not patronizing at all. Young children would probably be done after 20 minutes; not very interactive but there are detailed model ships, canoes, and diver's suits if they're into that. Quiet and not crowded at all so you can really spend time examining the displays and artifacts. Spent about an hour taking it all in, learned a lot. There's a small library with a good selection of vintage books if you want to spend more time. The curator herself was there to answer any questions.

  • 5/5 Spiro A. 1 year ago on Google • 11 reviews
    Amazing and beautiful museum. Wonderful exhibits. A very cared-for space with a fascinating history about the unique natural and then human-built environment that Chicagou was/is. I spent two hours there to fully learn about our maritime history.

  • 5/5 Helen K. 6 months ago on Google • 10 reviews
    The museum does a great job of displaying Chicago's maritime history. If you didn't think of Chicago as an important maritime location, you'll learn a lot when you visit the museum. And even if you know a lot, you're likely to learn more.

  • 5/5 Cathy H. 4 months ago on Google • 8 reviews
    Hidden jewel. Great museum

  • 1/5 Kevin A. 1 year ago on Google
    Supposed to be open by all sources but closed today. Disappointed

  • 5/5 D&J S. 2 years ago on Google
    Very nice! I'm glad we stopped by!

  • 4/5 Keith P. 1 year ago on Google
    Nice but small for a Museum, well researched explainers.

  • 5/5 Jon M. 2 years ago on Google
    Absolutely a FIVE-STAR place! It’s a small museum which has some excellent history and artifacts and models. My father made the mine-sweeper model for a friend, which was donated after he passed away. We had actually taken a Freedom Boat Club of Chicago boat almost past the museum last summer, and didn’t even know it. There gift shop has $4 t-shirts and tons of cool nautical artifacts. Check it out.

  • 5/5 Michael 1 year ago on Google
    New museum showcasing the Maritime history. Looking forward to see how it evolves over time to include more information about shipwrecks.

  • 5/5 Emerald 1 year ago on Google
    Great interactive museum. Nice staff and a good way to get into the historic building.

  • 5/5 Will T. 2 years ago on Google • 6 reviews
    This quaint yet dense museum explores the history of Chicago and its waterways I would definitely recommend it if you want to go too a museum but don't want the hustle and bustle of The Field Museum or The Museum of Science and Industry

  • 5/5 Gordon R. 5 years ago on Google
    A must-see in hip Bridgeport. You don't really know Chicago history unless you know its maritime history. Even the building is historic!

  • 3/5 Katie B. 11 months ago on Google
    Not a lot to see in terms of exhibits within the museums in the Lake Michigan region

  • 5/5 Sylvie H. 4 years ago on Google
    If you are interested in Chicago history and old buildings this is a must see.

  • 5/5 MrBetaRayBill 5 years ago on Google
    It's a small museum that is big on Chicago's maritime history. I recommend it for anyone who is curious about how Chicago became Chicago. The waterways play a huge part. The curator is very knowledgeable and can answer any question. Me and my wife stopped in on a whim was pleasantly surprised to find that we enjoyed our visit.

  • 5/5 Erin D. 4 years ago on Google
    Everyone of these reviews is true! If you have heard of this museum, go! It is a gem and such fascinating Chicago history! But most of all it has so much heart and the staff are so knowledgeable and friendly! Will certainly be going again

  • 2/5 Manevil L. 4 years ago on Google
    While looking to do something different, we decided to see what the Maritime had to offer. We walked to the basement of the building to enter in a quiet museum with the lights off. We stood there for a minute or so and said "hello", yet no one answered. We could see light from the side so we started to walk to the right and there were cluttered open offices and a canoe in the middle of the floor, interesting. My teenager began looking at the artifacts on the walls and began touring. After halfway through the museum and 20 minutes later a man approaches and tells us the staff is in a conference but we need to pay to be inside. I hand him the fee and he leaves. He tells my teenager to complete a paper of questions (Scavenger hunt) and he'll receive a gift, then leaves. The three of us go back to the half way point to finish walking around. After about 12 minutes a man comes out and tells my Father the history of a model landing port. They make small talk for a moment and the man goes into his office, the first cluttered one. At this point it has been an hour, no tour, no more than a three minute conversation with the staff....we could have had a better experience reviewing the website. As we were leaving someone did turn the lights on for the gift shop.

  • 5/5 Jenni A. 4 years ago on Google
    A delightful gem of a museum! Information is well presented, relevant and nicely portioned. We spent an hour or so here after lunch in the area and had a pleasant time taking to the knowledgeable folks on duty. We'll certainly return for their new exhibit on WWII.

  • 5/5 Alice M. 4 years ago on Google
    one of their ship model and ship in a bottle makers does classes! yay!

  • 5/5 Kris K. 2 years ago on Google
    Small but very cool museum of Chicago and it’s part in the Maritime community


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