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Third Friday Lecture – The Canal That Made Chicago: The 200th Anniversary of The Erie Canal
October 17 @ 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Join us for a fascinating discussion by CMM’s very own Bill Derrah on how the Erie Canal opened Great Lakes shipping to the world and built Chicago into a major city.
Two hundred years ago the Erie Canal opened, completely transforming western settlement, economic development and Chicago.
Bill Derrah joined the Chicago Maritime Society as a volunteer more than a decade ago to help with the museum’s burgeoning artifact collection. A University of Chicago geography major, Bill also holds a master’s degree in history education. More recently, he completed the U of C Artifact Collection Care Certification Program so that he could better address CMM’s collection’s needs. Derrah is also a member of the Chicago Yacht Club’s Island Goat Society, having sailed more than 25 Chicago to Mackinac races.