Name
Chelsea Bailey
Age
29
Company/Organization
Michigan Maritime Museum
What Does Your Company/Organization Do?
The Michigan Maritime Museum celebrates, preserves, promotes, and stewards the vibrant heritage and culture of Michigan’s Great Lakes and waterways, through education, exhibition, and immersive experience.
Education
B.A. in History and M.A. in Public History from Northern Kentucky University
Accomplishments
I served as a National Science Foundation Grant Research Fellow from 2018-2020, I graduated with Master’s during the COVID pandemic and my team and I have facilitated approximately 80,000 guests through the Michigan Maritime Museum since I was brought aboard in 2024.
What else do you hope to accomplish by the age of 40?
I hope that I can continue to inspire people of all ages to engage in, learn from, and relate to the stories of the past. I’d also like to contribute significantly to the growing impact of the Michigan Maritime Museum in the preservation and celebration of the histories surrounding Michigan’s Great Lakes and waterways!
Current City
Hartford, MI
Place You Were Born
Cincinnati, OH
What was your first job?
Mowing lawns during the summer throughout high school. It was hard and messy work, but it taught me the importance of consistency, attention to detail, and of creating a network of connections to grow your career.
What’s the best advice you ever got?
My dad didn’t always offer words of advice, but he certainly led by example. The best “advice” I ever received was a whole childhood of watching a man who worked from dawn to dusk every day, stayed humble, was always ready to lend a helping hand, and always had fun while doing it. I try to follow that example every day.
Who inspires you most?
My husband, Sam. He is one of the most hard working people I know. He is constantly pushing himself to learn new things and leave his comfort zone. He keeps me calm and level headed, and his ability to overcome challenges and grow from bad experiences inspires me constantly.
That one thing about you we’d be most surprised to learn.
I can speak German, though probably not fluently anymore
What do you love to do in your downtime?
Watch sci-fi, learn about Women’s history, and hang out with my cats!
What book are you reading now?
The Gales of November by John U. Bacon
Volunteer activity you love the most.
I really enjoy being a board member for the Michigan Emerging Museum Professionals. The museum industry is not the easiest to break into and I enjoy being able to work with a team of fellow emerging professionals to create a network across Michigan and help those just coming out of college or fresh off a career change to get their chance.
What motivates you to give back to your community?
I think we all do better together and I believe that we should lift each other up. I have been blessed with a thriving career that I love, due in part to others helping and advocating for me. I believe it’s my duty to pass that support on.
What Superpower would you most love to have?
The ability to fluently speak any language!
What would you like to leave behind as your legacy once you are gone?
I’d like to leave behind a collection of histories, well-preserved and interpreted artifacts, and exhibition materials that continue teaching and inspiring people long after I’m gone.
What does the honor of being named to the 40 Under 40 most mean to you?
I’m so grateful to have been nominated and selected and it is deeply meaningful to me that people on my team deemed me deserving of this honor. I haven’t lived and worked in the community for very long, but I feel so welcomed and appreciated. It’s very nice to have my work valued and recognized.
