Lectures on Tap - "The San José Galleon: A $20 Billion Fight for Treasure"

Professors, experts, and storytellers giving thought-provoking lectures in Chicago bars. 📍 Location: Exact address given in confirmation email 🧠 Lecture: "The San José Galleon: A $20 Billion Fight for Treasure" 🎤 Speaker: Dr. Caroline Malloy Join us for a riveting evening as historian Dr. Caroline Malloy dives into the extraordinary story of the San José galleon, the Spanish treasure ship sunk in 1708 and hidden for centuries off the coast of present-day Colombia. Recently rediscovered—more than once—this fabled wreck has ignited a $20 billion battle over gold, artifacts, and the very question of who owns the past. Through gripping tales of international intrigue and swashbuckling adventure, Dr. Malloy will trace the galleon’s history, its dramatic sinking, and the modern political and legal storm surrounding its treasure. Along the way, we’ll explore the ethical and practical challenges of recovering objects from the deep and deciding how (and where) they should be displayed. Dr. Malloy is a Chicago-based historian, book coach, and editor with a Ph.D. in Art History. She lectures internationally on world’s fairs, heritage, and national identity, and serves as a Resident Historian with Viking Ocean cruises. Get a drink, connect, and learn at Lectures on Tap! 🙌 Agenda 6:30 PM – Doors open: find a seat (open seating!), order food & drinks, and expect a bar line—arriving early is key. 6:55 PM – Host introduction 7:00 PM – Lecture begins 7:45 PM – Audience Q&A 8:00 PM – Have 1:1 time with the speaker, mingle with fellow guests, and order another round 8:30 PM – Wrap up.