Museum CLOSED for Fiesta Friday

The museum will be CLOSED on Friday, August 7 for Fiesta. We will be open the next business day 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.

SBMM Presents Play: Bronze Sculptures and Other Stuff by Susan Read Cronin

Santa Barbara Maritime Museum PresentsPlay: Bronze Sculptures and Other Stuff by Susan Read Cronin  On View August 13 – November 29, 2026A playful, story-rich exhibition exploring the breadth of human emotion through bronze, silhouettes, and poetry SBMM is delighted to ......More

Santa Barbara Maritime Museum PresentsPlay: Bronze Sculptures and Other Stuff by Susan Read Cronin  On View August 13 – November 29, 2026A playful, story-rich exhibition exploring the breadth of human emotion through bronze, silhouettes, and poetry SBMM is delighted to present Play: Bronze Sculptures and Other Stuff by Susan (Susie) Read Cronin, on view August 13 through November 29, 2026. With humor and imagination at its heart, Play invites visitors to experience the full spectrum of human feeling through Cronin’s allegorical bronze sculptures — alongside her silhouettes and poetry. Cronin’s pieces are imaginative and disarmingly joyful: small scenes that feel like fables, visual puns that reward a second look, and characters that seem to carry on secret conversations. Cronin takes the word “play” literally, as she plays with words, scale, perspective and sometimes danger. While the work often begins in laughter, it doesn’t stay on the surface. Play explores tenderness, longing, mischief, vulnerability, and wonder — reminding us that imagination and play can be both a refuge and a way of discovering the truth. In her own words, Cronin calls her work “figurative and narrative,” grounded in gesture and emotion. Her titles unlock new layers of meaning across sculpture and text. Play invites us to slow down, look closer, and rediscover the simple joy of being human. Bronze has a long and distinguished relationship with maritime history. For centuries, it has been valued for its strength, beauty, and resilience, appearing in tools, trade goods, ship fittings, and other objects shaped by life at sea. At the Santa Barbara Maritime Museum, bronze resonates not only as a historic material, but also as one deeply tied to craftsmanship, exploration, and endurance. In Play, Susan Read Cronin reimagines this storied medium through sculptures that are imaginative, lyrical, and unexpectedly expressive. Her work offers a contemporary perspective on bronze, transforming a material long associated with utility and permanence into one of wit, emotion, and wonder. In doing so, the exhibition creates a thoughtful bridge between maritime legacy and artistic invention. As an added bonus, for those of you who have always longed to understand how a bronze sculpture is made, part of the show explains and simplifies the lost wax bronze casting process. Exhibition Details Exhibition: Play: Bronze Sculptures and Other Stuff by Susan (Susie) Read CroninDates: August 13 – November 29, 2026Location: Santa Barbara Maritime Museum, 113 Harbor Way, Suite 190, Santa Barbara, CA 93109Hours: Open daily, 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.Admission: Included with museum admission (SBMM members free). About the Artist Susan (Susie) Read Cronin is a sculptor, writer, and multidisciplinary artist known for bronze sculptures that blend craft with playfulness and narrative charm. Educated at The Madeira School, she earned a B.A. in English from Williams College and studied with sculptors Jane B. Armstrong and Walter Matia. After many years working in Vermont, Cronin relocated full-time to Santa Barbara in 2016. Her work has been exhibited widely, including solo shows across Vermont, New York City, Denver, and California, and her exhibition Fables, Foibles, and Fairy Tales has traveled to 18 museums and other venues around the country.

Santa Barbara Maritime Museum, 113 Harbor Way, Santa Barbara, CA, 93109, United States

Members Only Exhibit Opening Play: Bronze Sculptures and Other Stuff by Susan (Susie) Read Cronin

Play: Bronze Sculptures and Other Stuff by Susan (Susie) Read Cronin, members are invited to the exhibit opening August 13, 2026, 4:30 p.m. A playful and thought-provoking exhibition of bronze sculptures, silhouettes, and poetry. With humor, imagination, and emotional d......More

Play: Bronze Sculptures and Other Stuff by Susan (Susie) Read Cronin, members are invited to the exhibit opening August 13, 2026, 4:30 p.m. A playful and thought-provoking exhibition of bronze sculptures, silhouettes, and poetry. With humor, imagination, and emotional depth, Cronin’s work explores tenderness, mischief, longing, vulnerability, and wonder through small narrative scenes that feel both whimsical and profound. Susie’s figurative sculptures invite visitors to slow down, look closer, and rediscover the joy and complexity of being human. The exhibition also includes an accessible explanation of the lost-wax bronze casting process. Meet the artist. Refreshments served.

Santa Barbara Maritime Museum, 113 Harbor Way, Santa Barbara, CA, 93109, United States

August Maritime Distinguished Speaker Series Presents “Vision for a Wild Coast at Point Conception: Jack and Laura Dangermond Preserve”

Santa Barbara Maritime Museum Welcomes the Nature Conservancy’s Moses Katkowski for August Maritime Distinguished Speaker Series“Vision for a Wild Coast at Point Conception: Jack and Laura Dangermond Preserve” explores conservation, restoration, science, and stewardship......More

Santa Barbara Maritime Museum Welcomes the Nature Conservancy’s Moses Katkowski for August Maritime Distinguished Speaker Series“Vision for a Wild Coast at Point Conception: Jack and Laura Dangermond Preserve” explores conservation, restoration, science, and stewardship at one of California’s most significant coastal landscapesSBMM is pleased to present “Vision for a Wild Coast at Point Conception: Jack and Laura Dangermond Preserve” as part of its Maritime Distinguished Speaker Series on Thursday, August 20, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. at the museum. SBMM members are invited to a pre-lecture reception from 6:15–6:45 p.m.Tickets: Free for Navigators Circle members, $10 for SBMM members, $20 for the general public, and $5 for students and educators with valid school ID or email. For reservations, visit sbmm.org, email [email protected], or call (805) 456-8750. Register Today The program features Moses Katkowski, Director of the Dangermond Preserve, who will share how The Nature Conservancy is working to protect, restore, and study this extraordinary coastal landscape at Point Conception. Locally known as the Cojo-Jalama Ranch, the Jack and Laura Dangermond Preserve was acquired by The Nature Conservancy in 2018. Over the past decade, The Nature Conservancy has advanced a long-range vision for a wild coast at Point Conception—one that protects a rare and dynamic coastal environment, supports scientific conservation research, deploys technology to accelerate learning and improve management, and inspires future generations of conservation leaders.Katkowski will discuss the management, restoration, and science now underway at the Preserve, including the launch of the Point Conception Institute, a global conservation science center based at the Preserve. The Institute describes its mission as building a collaborative research community, advancing open science, stewarding data and technology, and generating insights that can support biodiversity protection, ecosystem restoration, and climate response in California and beyond. The talk will also explore research and restoration focused on land-sea connectivity at Point Conception and efforts to bring Southern California steelhead back to Jalama Creek. Attendees will learn more about the history of the land, why it was protected, and the many partnerships that help make this broad conservation vision possible both on the Preserve and across the wider Gaviota Coast region. “Moses Katkowski brings a compelling perspective on what it means to care for a place where land, sea, science, and stewardship all meet,” said Dean Noble, executive director of SBMM. “Their work at the Dangermond Preserve reflects the kind of long-term conservation thinking and collaboration that is deeply relevant to the Santa Barbara Channel and to the future of our coast.” Moses Katkowski has served with The Nature Conservancy since 2006 and has led preserve management and coastal restoration work in both New Jersey and California. Since 2018, he has lived and worked at the Dangermond Preserve, where he oversees land management activities including rangelands, fire management, invasive species control, cattle grazing as a conservation tool, and preserve operations. He holds a B.A. in Environmental Science from Stockton University and a Master of Environmental Studies from the University of Pennsylvania.

Santa Barbara Maritime Museum, 113 Harbor Way, Santa Barbara, CA, 93109, United States

ECHOES of the ANCHOR: A Journey Through Maritime History

LIVING HISTORY ABOARD TALL SHIP MYSTIC WHALER BRINGS1818 CALIFORNIA PRIVATEER RAID TO LIFE Community event features authentic artifacts from Santa Barbara Maritime Museum, living history reenactors, and interactive family activities. Local history lovers and adventure s......More

LIVING HISTORY ABOARD TALL SHIP MYSTIC WHALER BRINGS1818 CALIFORNIA PRIVATEER RAID TO LIFE Community event features authentic artifacts from Santa Barbara Maritime Museum, living history reenactors, and interactive family activities. Local history lovers and adventure seekers are invited to step off the shore and straight into the history books for a living history event exploring one of California’s most dramatic maritime chapters: the 1818 raids of the pirate Hippolyte Bouchard. Hosted by Mystic Ocean Adventures, the tall ship Mystic Whaler, and the Santa Barbara Maritime Museum, the event offers a hands-on journey back to the early 19th century when Bouchard – a French-born Argentine privateer – sailed up the California coast, leaving an indelible mark on maritime history. Attendees will have the unique opportunity to: Meet Living History Reenactors: Interact with costumed historical figures on board the Mystic Whaler, including a live character portrayal of Hippolyte Bouchard himself.View Rare Artifacts: Examine authentic 19th-century historical pieces on display, made available through a special collaboration with the Santa Barbara Maritime Museum.Engage in Family Activities: Test and solve historical mysteries in an interactive, harbor-wide treasure hunt.Explore a Tall Ship: Walk the decks of Mystic Whaler and gain insight into traditional seafaring techniques and coastal life during the era of privateers.“History comes alive when you can stand on the deck of a vessel, see the actual tools of the era, and talk with the figures who shaped the coast,” said Captain Christine Healy, Executive Director of Mystic Ocean Adventures. “Whether you’re a maritime enthusiast or looking for a memorable family outing, this event connects our local community directly to California’s rich coastal past.” Costumes are encouraged—Costumed guests (or those with a Pirate’s Day scavenger hunt) can enjoy free admission for themselves and up to three guests at the museum. Event Details: Sunday, August 23 10 am until 4 pm 113 Harbor Way About Mystic Ocean Adventures (MOA): Mystic Ocean Adventures, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, promotes hands-on education, STEAM academic comprehension, environmental stewardship, teamwork, self-confidence, and nautical skills with a special focus on youth through sailing and the sea. It’s 110-foot tall ship , the Mystic Whaler, provides a unique outdoor classroom experience for the communities it serves. mysticoceanadventures.org About the Santa Barbara Maritime Museum (SBMM): SBMM’s mission to interpret the rich and diverse maritime history of the Santa Barbara Channel. SBMM is an interactive museum – a place where the public can experience maritime culture without leaving the harbor. Founded by a group of fisherman, divers, and sailors, SBMM provides hands-on learning opportunities for all ages, delving into Santa Barbara’s robust maritime history while highlighting the important role the Santa Barbara Channel plays in our culture and community.

Why Islands Matter: A New Vision for Protecting Islands

Why Islands Matter explores the vital connection between island communities and the ecosystems that sustain them. Presented by Seacology, this program highlights how protecting reefs, rainforests, and other fragile island environments can also bring meaningful benefits ......More

Why Islands Matter explores the vital connection between island communities and the ecosystems that sustain them. Presented by Seacology, this program highlights how protecting reefs, rainforests, and other fragile island environments can also bring meaningful benefits to local people through education, renewable energy, and sustainable livelihoods. With more than 35 years of global conservation work, Seacology offers an inspiring look at why islands are both uniquely important and urgently in need of protection. Film Screening and DiscussionThursday, August 27, 20266:00-8:00 p.m. Tingloy Municipality, Philippines Register Today Environmental issues are human issues. To people living on islands, their forest or sea is a lifeline, a source of food and livelihood, and a profoundly important part of their culture. But islanders are under constant economic pressure. They want to protect their precious resources, but they also need money to meet their families’ basic needs for education, health, and opportunity. It can be a heartbreaking dilemma. Seacology helps islanders protect their environment AND receive important community benefits. Our projects have made it possible for villages to keep protecting reefs and rainforests while replacing dilapidated schools, building ecotourism centers that will generate sustainable income, or installing solar power that transforms their daily lives. This win-win approach recognizes the knowledge and autonomy of indigenous communities and gives them an economic incentive to preserve their natural resources. Seacology works only on islands because they are extraordinarily important and vulnerable ecosystems. Nearly 40 percent of critically endangered species live on islands if they vanish from their island homes, they vanish from the Earth. Protecting islands, which are on the front lines of climate change, is now more critical than ever.  Since Seacology’s founding 35 years ago, we have launched over 450 projects in 74 countries, protecting more than 1.6 million acres of vulnerable marine and terrestrial ecosystems.  Through our travel program, supporters can visit our projects and see their impact in person.   Since 1999, Duane Silverstein has been the Executive Director of Seacology, an international nonprofit with the sole focus of preserving islands – their fragile habitats, vanishing species, and historic cultures – across the globe. Before heading Seacology, he was the Executive Director of the Goldman Fund, one of California’s largest philanthropic foundations, for 18 years. Duane was instrumental in creating and heading the Goldman Environmental Prize, which has been dubbed the “Nobel Prize of the Environment” by National Geographic and news media around the globe. Over his career he has visited more than 228 islands in 100 nations, and is widely considered one of the world’s foremost experts on islands.       Marisol Rueda Flores is a biologist, science communicator, and conservation professional based in La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico. She earned her B.Sc. in Biology from the Autonomous University of the State of Morelos and a Master of Science in Marine Resources Management from CICIMAR-IPN, where she specialized in blue whale research in the Gulf of California. For more than 20 years, Marisol has worked in marine conservation, environmental education, science communication, and community engagement across Mexico, Costa Rica, and the Galápagos Islands. Her experience spans the conservation of coral reefs, cetaceans, sea turtles, marine invertebrates, and island ecosystems, combining scientific knowledge with outreach, environmental education, and collaboration with local communities. She currently serves as Communications Officer for Healthy Reefs for Healthy People, leading regional communications across the Mesoamerican Reef, while also representing Seacology in Mexico as Field Representative, supporting community-based conservation projects that protect biodiversity while improving local livelihoods. An AAUS-certified scientific diver and AGRRA Fish Monitoring Instructor, Marisol is passionate about connecting people with the ocean through effective communication, underwater exploration, and storytelling. In her free time, she enjoys scuba diving, underwater photography, and traveling to discover new cultures and marine environments.

Museum will be Closed Today for a Special Event

The museum will be closed Wednesday, Sept 2, 2026 due to our Tiles on Deck – Mah Jongg at the Maritime Invitaional. SBMM is closed today and will reopen on the next regular business day. See you soon!

Tiles on Deck - Mah Jongg at the Maritime Museum

3rd Annual Mah Jongg at the Maritime MuseumWednesday, September 2, 202611:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.Santa Barbara Maritime Museum113 Harbor Way, Santa BarbaraCheck-In – 11:00 a.m.Lunch – 11:30 a.m.Mah Jongg Played – 12:30-3:00 p.m.No quarters needed! Prizes will be awarded af......More

3rd Annual Mah Jongg at the Maritime MuseumWednesday, September 2, 202611:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.Santa Barbara Maritime Museum113 Harbor Way, Santa BarbaraCheck-In – 11:00 a.m.Lunch – 11:30 a.m.Mah Jongg Played – 12:30-3:00 p.m.No quarters needed! Prizes will be awarded after each round of game play. Benefiting the Santa Barbara Maritime Museum Tickets: $125 per person or $500 for a table of four. Raffle tickets available at the event for $5 a ticket or five tickets for $20. Purchase Tickets   Thank you to our sponsor Mary Lu Edick of Village Properties Thank you to our Wine Sponsor Thank you to our Media Sponsor

Santa Barbara Maritime Museum, 113 Harbor Way, Santa Barbara, CA, 93109, United States

September Maritime Distinguished Speaker Series Presents “The Blue Blind Spot: The Most Important Infrastructure Project That No One Is Funding”

SBMM is pleased to present “The Blue Blind Spot: The Most Important Infrastructure Project That No One Is Funding” as part of its September Maritime Distinguished Speaker Series. The program will feature Chris Ragland, founder and executive director of Sea League, for a......More

SBMM is pleased to present “The Blue Blind Spot: The Most Important Infrastructure Project That No One Is Funding” as part of its September Maritime Distinguished Speaker Series. The program will feature Chris Ragland, founder and executive director of Sea League, for a thought-provoking talk on ocean access, stewardship, and the importance of building meaningful connections between coastal communities and the marine environments that surround them on Thursday, September 17, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. at the museum. SBMM members are invited to a pre-lecture reception from 6:15–6:45 p.m. Tickets: Free for Navigators Circle members, $10 for SBMM members, $20 for the general public, and $5 for students and educators with valid school ID or email. For reservations, visit sbmm.org, email [email protected], or call (805) 456-8750. Register Today In his presentation, Ragland will explore the idea that nature connection should be treated not simply as a charitable cause, but as essential public infrastructure. Drawing on Sea League’s work creating immersive ocean experiences that cross economic lines and bridge neighborhoods, he will examine how direct connection to the sea can cultivate future stewards, scientists, entrepreneurs, and the workforce needed for a thriving blue economy. The talk will focus on the Santa Barbara Channel as one of the most ecologically significant marine environments on the planet, while also highlighting the reality that many people living along the surrounding coastline have never meaningfully experienced it. Ragland will discuss what is possible when ocean fluency is built at scale and how that vision could strengthen marine conservation, workforce development, community resilience, and the long-term health of the coastlines on which society depends. “There is no institutional infrastructure that normalizes ocean immersion for coastal communities,” said Ragland. “This fragmented familiarity produces fragmented stewardship. You can’t build a coalition broad enough to protect something that most of your community has never had the chance to experience.” Chris Ragland is the founder and executive director of Sea League, a Santa Barbara organization innovating how youth connect to the ocean. A waterman-turned-social entrepreneur, he brings together a decade of experience as a surf coach, lifeguard, and kayak guide in Channel Islands National Park with leadership in environmental advocacy and public engagement. As Creative Director at FinalStraw, he helped advance efforts that eliminated 300 million single-use straws. He has also collaborated with NOAA and California’s Ocean Protection Council on public engagement and served on the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council. “Chris Ragland brings an inspiring and necessary perspective to the conversation about the future of our coast,” said SBMM Executive Director Dean Noble. “His work challenges us to think differently about who has access to the ocean, why that matters, and how those connections shape the next generation of marine stewards.” Through the Maritime Distinguished Speaker Series, SBMM continues to bring leading voices in ocean science, maritime history, conservation, and coastal culture to the Santa Barbara community, reinforcing the museum’s mission to illuminate our rich connections with the sea through education and storytelling.

Girls in Ocean Science Conference Middle School

The Girls in Ocean Science Conference takes place annually in September with one session open to middle school (6th-8th grades) students and two sessions open to high school (9th-12th grades) students. This year, the middle school conference will take place on Saturday,......More

The Girls in Ocean Science Conference takes place annually in September with one session open to middle school (6th-8th grades) students and two sessions open to high school (9th-12th grades) students. This year, the middle school conference will take place on Saturday, September 26, 2026. The high school conference will take place on Sunday, September 27, 2026. The fee to attend the conference is $30. Students can apply for scholarships to cover the attendance fee on the registration form. The conference is an in-person event taking place in Santa Barbara. During the conference, students conduct field activities and gain insight into real-world research happening in the Santa Barbara region. Participants begin their adventure by boarding a research vessel where they then rotate through five research stations, each led by female scientists and educators (read scientist and educator bios here). Previous labs include blue whales, blue skies, and ocean soundscapes ROV eelgrass observations shark tracking abalone restoration and plankton ID, harmful algal blooms, and microplastics. Students leave the experience inspired and empowered to envision a future in marine science.

Girls in Ocean Science Conference High School

The Girls in Ocean Science Conference takes place annually in September with one session open to middle school (6th-8th grades) students and two sessions open to high school (9th-12th grades) students. This year, the middle school conference will take place on Saturday,......More

The Girls in Ocean Science Conference takes place annually in September with one session open to middle school (6th-8th grades) students and two sessions open to high school (9th-12th grades) students. This year, the middle school conference will take place on Saturday, September 26, 2026. The high school conference will take place on Sunday, September 27, 2026. The fee to attend the conference is $30. Students can apply for scholarships to cover the attendance fee on the registration form. The conference is an in-person event taking place in Santa Barbara. During the conference, students conduct field activities and gain insight into real-world research happening in the Santa Barbara region. Participants begin their adventure by boarding a research vessel where they then rotate through five research stations, each led by female scientists and educators (read scientist and educator bios here). Previous labs include blue whales, blue skies, and ocean soundscapes ROV eelgrass observations shark tracking abalone restoration and plankton ID, harmful algal blooms, and microplastics. Students leave the experience inspired and empowered to envision a future in marine science.