Piracy on the Great Lakes Will be the Topic of February HHA Meeting

Christopher Gillcrist, director emeritusofthe National Museum of the Great Lakes in Toledo, will be the featured speaker at the February 13 meeting of Hudson Heritage Association when he provides a glimpse into the little-known world of piracy on the Great Lakes. Gillcrist promises an evening “filled with a healthy dose of thievery, mutiny and other unsavory tales” as he takes a close look at the historical and cultural implications of piracy and its impact on Great Lakes history.

Gillcrist has a BA and MA in history from John Carroll University and is ABD in social policy at Case Western Reserve University. He served as the National Museum of the Great Lakes’ executive director from 1999 to 2023 and led the organization’s growth from its original museum in Vermilion, Ohio, to its current location as the National Museum of the Great Lakes in Toledo. Prior to joining the Great Lakes Historical Society, he served as executive director of the Lake County Historical Society and began his career in higher education as an associate professor of history at Notre Dame College of Ohio and instructor of history at Ursuline College.

HHA’s February 13 program, to be held at Barlow Community Center, begins at 7 p.m. and is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served following the presentation.