Theodore and Joseph Karamanski Lead a Docent Training at the Chicago Maritime Museum

On October 1st, Professor Theodore Karamanski and Joseph Karamanski, Loyola undergraduate alum, now in the Exhibits Department at the Alder Planetarium, led a docent training at the Chicago Maritime Museum.

Although in existence since the 1980s, the Chicago Maritime Museum opened its new location in July 2016 which prompted the updated docent training workshop by the Karamanskis. The Chicago Maritime Museum works to "preserve and present the heritage of Chicago's waterways. The 10,000 square foot museum space offers visitors a chronological walk through local maritime history including the eras of French fur traders, sail and steam-powered vessels, modern commercial Great Lakes frigates, recreational sailing and the Ralph and Rita Frese Canoe Collection."

The Public History program has a long history with the Chicago Maritime Museum going back to 1980 when the first public history intern completed his internship at the Chicago Maritime Society (now the Chicago Maritime Museum). Since then, public history students have completed numerous internships as well as offered support with Loyola University sponsored events at the museum like the Chicago Maritime Folk Festival, the Illinois Lighthouse Project, the Chicago Maritime History Bibliography, and the Christmas Tree Ship exhibit. Professor Karamanski has also served on the board and as a historical adviser at the Chicago Maritime Museum since 1980. The Maritime Museum has been a key partner with the Public History program and the History department, and hopefully this partnership will continue to the benefit of both the Public History program and the Maritime Museum.