Tag archives: Santa Barbara Maritime Museum
Ahoy, Santa Barbarans! Have you noticed the presence of Santa Barbara’s Official Tall Ship, the Mystic Whaler, docked in the protective waters of the Santa Barbara harbor? She returns to Santa Barbara from the Ventura harbor where she hosted a series of marine related educational programs and dock tours for young people and guests. After […]
By Lisa Duncan Darling, if ever there were an excuse to don something floaty and sip something chilled, it was the opening night of Aquean at the Santa Barbara Maritime Museum. The evening was balmy and golden, drawing a spiffy Montecito crowd to the waterfront setting with seaside sophistication. The Pacific, just beyond, shimmered softly […]
On Dean Noble’s very first day as the new executive director of the Santa Barbara Maritime Museum (SBMM), it was my completely coincidental good fortune to be perched on the Museum’s patio with a cup of Java from Dart Coffee and in possession of pad, pencil, and laptop. Any plans I may have had remain […]
By Lisa Marie Duncan Supporters of the Santa Barbara Maritime Museum gathered over the weekend for the festive “Love Boat” Gala, an evening devoted to celebrating maritime heritage while raising funds for the museum’s growing education and outreach programs. The ocean-inspired event highlighted the museum’s role as a vibrant hub for maritime history and ocean […]
What happens when ocean mist meets mountain light? When a brush meets canvas, and local talent meets natural wonders? Where the Mountains Meet the Sea, a new exhibition of landscape paintings by 12 predominately Santa Barbara-based artists, is soon to be on view from January 22 through March 29, 2026. This absolutely ‘must see’ display, […]
What a Night! The Santa Barbara Maritime Museum’s halls resounded with laughter with an old-fashioned Celebrity Roast – think Dean Martin! – and a panel of friends and colleagues to celebrate Executive Director Greg Gorga’s retirement after helming the organization for 18 years. Welcomed were over 200 guests (not including crashers) who noshed on delicious […]
Executive Director Greg Gorga has been part of the staff of the Santa Barbara Maritime Museum (SBMM) for nearly 19 years. That’s impressive by any account, but even more so considering that the museum located in the Waterfront Center Building (formerly the Naval Reserve Building) in the heart of the Santa Barbara Harbor only opened […]
A lively crowd gathered at the Santa Barbara Maritime Museum to celebrate Montecito resident Bob Gates’ surprise 80th birthday, planned to perfection by his wife, Mary Gates. Cleverly, Mary told Bob they were attending a Caribbean masquerade party for their friend Hiroko Benko – until he arrived to discover family and friends who had traveled […]
Santa Barbara Maritime Museum, which is marking its 25th anniversary, rocked the harbor when the Los Angeles based sextet Yachty by Nature performed for 120 guests, raising $20,000 for the organization. Featuring music from the ‘70s and ‘80s including Hall & Oates, Boz Scaggs, and Steely Dan, everybody was soon cutting a rug on the […]
On a sunny Spring Friday afternoon, the Santa Barbara community gathered to celebrate a powerful moment in maritime history – the unveiling of the Deepwater Diving Monument located at the entrance of the harbor. The 10-foot bronze statue of a diver is a tribute to the pioneering commercial divers whose innovations helped shape the modern […]
The Santa Barbara Maritime Museum throbbed to the Caribbean beat as 140 guests celebrated a Love Boat cruise gala with head honcho Greg Gorga in all white officer’s uniform. Condor Express owner Hiroko Benko, who created a Santa Barbara Whale Heritage Area, and Sigrid Toye, a past board president and current board member, were presented […]
Santa Barbara Maritime Museum, which celebrates its 25th anniversary next month, opened its first exhibition of the year – Above Your Dreams by local artist Kevin A. Short, which runs through May 11. The colorful exhibit of more than 40 oil paintings showcases Short’s deftness at capturing fleeting beauty and the power of sunlight through […]
The Santa Barbara Maritime Museum (SBMM) updated its admission and membership rates on January 2. The rate increases are said to ensure the museum can continue to offer its engaging exhibits, dynamic educational programs, and world-class events for the community. The new admission rates are: General admission: $12 Seniors (65+): $8 Children (6-17) & Students: […]
In keeping with the celebration of March 2024 as Women’s History Month (spoiler alert!) this column is going to contain some seriously shameless bragging! At the close of this month I’d like to send the memo that, both in a professional capacity and as volunteers, every month of any year Santa Barbara women make huge […]
Santa Barbara Maritime Museum was even more magical than usual when it hosted the “Heist at the Harbor: An Evening of Mystery and Intrigue” gala for 120 guests, which raised around $100,000 for the harborside institution. The boffo bash, co-chaired by immediate past president Sigrid Toye and Cindy Makela, also celebrated benefactors Robyn Parker and […]
There is something very exciting happening at the Santa Barbara Maritime Museum! Of course, there are always exciting things going on at SBMM, however this is something very special to be enjoyed (and loved!) by the entire family. Having opened on Wednesday, February 8th, the Maritime Museum’s new exhibit, ICE BEAR, puts on display a […]
The pier opposite the Santa Barbara Maritime Museum was heaving with guests when the recreation of the 19th century gaff-rigged 110-foot 98-ton steel-hulled schooner Mystic Whaler was recommissioned in its new role – an educational vessel for youngsters, 10 to 18, run by Central Coast Ocean Adventures. Originally launched in Florida in 1967, it spent […]
Santa Barbara Maritime Museum has three new board members – Don Barthelmess, Tom Elliott, and Chad Makela. The 21-member board provides oversight to the stewardship of the harborside organization, and the tony triumvirate brings a unique skill set and experience to the role.
The 2003 epic period war-drama Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World concerns a British captain pushing his ship and crew to their limits in pursuit of a French war vessel off the South American coast. Based on Patrick O’Brian’s beloved series of novels set in the Napoleonic Wars, the film received 10 […]
Santa Barbara Maritime Museum has a new deputy director, Jessica Tade. Tade, who holds a Ph.D. in art history from UCSB, has worked for more than a decade for organizations either promoting the arts or providing access and opportunity to the community. Among other positions, she has served as the director of communications and marketing […]
