Experience 13,000 Years of Maritime History & Human Interaction with the Sea

Engage with the Museum through Events, Lectures, and Activities for the Whole Family

Santa Barbara is Known as the Birthplace of Deepwater Commercial Diving

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diving helmets permanent exhibit

Welcome to the Santa Barbara Maritime Museum

The Santa Barbara Maritime Museum is one of the premier venues for education, information, and lectures about the Santa Barbara Channel, the Channel Islands National Park, and 13,000 years of human interaction with the sea. Whether you're interested in historical subjects such as the Chumash and their settlements along the Santa Barbara coast, or more contemporary nautical topics such as environmental preservation, marine life, surfing, and sustainability, we offer something interesting for everyone. We also have lots of fun and interactive exhibits for kids and families.

We're conveniently located in the beautiful Santa Barbara Harbor next to several shops, restaurants, boat rides, kayak rentals, and various activities for the whole family. Come on down and make a day of it. You'll be glad you did.

Upcoming Exhibits, Lectures, and Events

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ICE BEAR

A selection of photographs by Ralph Clevenger

February 8, 2024 - May 31, 2024

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Maritime Distinguished Speaker Series presents Life Hidden in Plain Sight

with Marine Genome Project Co-Founder Daniel Ortega 

Thursday, March 21, 2024 at 7 P.M.

harbor wc extended

Women of the Santa Barbara Harbor 

 

A selection of 13 vignettes on women who work in and around the harbor.

 

 March 1, 2024 - May 29, 2024 

Latest Museum News & Updates

Students Embark on a Journey of Scientific Discovery Through Santa Barbara Maritime Museum’s Marine Science Program
By Maclaine Fiori | March 5, 2024

By Maclaine Fiori As the morning sun peeked through the clouds, a group of 26 fifth-graders and their chaperones gathered outside the Santa Barbara Landing. On this day, the students…

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Blue Whales and Blue Skies Legislation Announced
By Maclaine Fiori | March 4, 2024

By Maclaine Fiori Assemblymember Gregg Hart, along with fellow representatives and environmental experts, held a press conference on Friday, February 23, 2024 at Santa Barbara City College announcing the reintroduction…

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Part IV: The Santa Barbara Harbor Approaches a Century
By Maclaine Fiori | March 4, 2024

by Lydia Rao The breakwater was completed on June 30, 1930, and featured walkways, benches, and lighting. It also created land, in the form of 10-acres of sand which built…

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PART III: An Earthquake and a Yeast Magnate
By Maclaine Fiori | February 2, 2024

By Lydia Rao Start at the beginning with Part I. Santa Barbara entered the “Roaring Twenties” as a burgeoning tourist destination. Parades down West Boulevard ended at Plaza del Mar…

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PART II: The Waterfront District Emerges
By Maclaine Fiori | December 29, 2023

By Lydia Rao Start at the beginning with Part I. The 1870s were a busy time for the expanding waterfront – the first fish market opened and the Overland Telegraph…

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Did You Know?

Just up the coast from Santa Barbara, at Honda Point, a navigational mishap resulted almost a dozen new navy destroyers running aground on the evening of September 8, 1923. Seven ships were left on the rocks and declared a total loss.