National Museum of the Great Lakes Announces Free 2026 Fall Lecture Series

September 9, 2026 (Toledo, Ohio) – The National Museum of the Great Lakes presents its 2026 Fall Lecture Series, presented by Impact Employment Solutions, exploring the science, mysteries, and legends of the Great Lakes. All three lectures are free to attend and offered in a hybrid format, with the option to join in person or online via Zoom. Registration is required for both attendance options and is available now on Eventbrite.

“We’re thrilled by the interest we’ve already seen in this season’s speakers and topics,” said Carrie Sowden, Director of Archaeology and Research at the National Museum of the Great Lakes. “These stories matter to our region and to the broader story of the Great Lakes, and we’re grateful to be able to share them with our community at no cost and make them accessible to anyone, anywhere in the world.”

Removing Invasive Grass Carp from Lake Erie

Wednesday, September 16 | 7:00 p.m. | NMGL or online

Dr. Christine M. Mayer of the University of Toledo’s Lake Erie Center will examine the growing threat of invasive Grass Carp in Lake Erie and the collaborative research and removal efforts underway to protect the region’s wetlands and aquatic habitats.

Registration: falllecturecarp.eventbrite.com

Where Is the No. 2? The Mystery of the Marquette & Bessemer No. 2

Wednesday, October 21 | 7:00 p.m. | NMGL or online

Author and historian Dr. Thomas Adams, a featured expert on the PBS special Secrets of the Abyss, will explore the disappearance of the Marquette & Bessemer No. 2 more than a century ago, examining its final voyage, its crew, and the evidence that may point to its final resting place beneath Lake Erie.

Registration: marquetteandbessemer.eventbrite.com

Gales of November: The Untold Story of the Edmund Fitzgerald

Wednesday, November 18 | 7:00 p.m. | The Valentine Theatre or online

Award-winning journalist and New York Times bestselling author John U. Bacon, recipient of the 2026 Rear Admiral Samuel Eliot Morison Award for Naval Literature, will share new stories from his book The Gales of November: The Untold Story of the Edmund Fitzgerald, examining the crew, their families, and the evidence surrounding one of the Great Lakes’ most enduring tragedies. Due to already popular demand, this lecture moves to the Grand Lobby of The Valentine Theatre (410 Adams St, Toledo, OH), presented in partnership with the theatre. Doors open at 6 p.m., with a book signing at 6:15 p.m. in the lobby.

Registration: edmundfitzgeraldlecture.eventbrite.com

All three lectures are free and open to the public, with donations gratefully accepted to support future educational programming.

About the National Museum of the Great Lakes: The National Museum of the Great Lakes preserves, shares, and celebrates the past, present, and future of the Great Lakes story. As an interactive, experiential museum, we offer visitors the chance to explore thousands of years of history and stories through nine dynamic exhibit galleries—including a rotating temporary exhibition space—and two historic museum vessels, the Col. James M. Schoonmaker Museum Ship and the Museum Tug Ohio, plus the pilothouse of the storied St. Marys Challenger.

Founded in 1944 as the Great Lakes Historical Society, we have a long-standing commitment to education, research, and storytelling. Our initiatives include the publication of Inland Seas®, a quarterly journal of Great Lakes history since 1945, and decades of maritime preservation and archaeological exploration. Today, we strive to be the gathering place for Great Lakes conversations—welcoming all to connect with the stories, people, and innovations that have shaped and continue to influence this vital region.