Mapping the Great Lakes Lecture at National Museum of the Great Lakes

Mapping the Great Lakes—Shipwrecks, Surfing, and Shorelines with speaker Alex Hill.

The Great Lakes region is home to one-tenth of the United States’ population and one-quarter of Canada’s, yet their scale, complexity, and influence are often taken for granted. In this illustrated talk, Hill shifts our perspective with more than fifty original maps exploring the lakes through four themes: history and culture, ecology, infrastructure, and physical geography. From the Underground Railroad to monarch butterfly migration, NFL teams on Great Lakes shores to clusters of shipwrecks and Bigfoot sightings, these maps reveal surprising connections and patterns across the basin.

Hill also examines the lakes’ vulnerabilities, including shrinking wetlands, oil spills, and rising temperatures driven by climate change—highlighting both their fragility and their vital role in shaping life, industry, and identity across the region.

This lecture is free, but registration is required.

Offered as a hybrid event, participants can choose when registering to take part in-person at the museum or online via Zoom.