About SBMM

Overview

Santa Barbara Maritime Museum opened its doors to the public in July 2000 in the Waterfront Center Building, formerly the Naval Reserve Building, with the unique mission to interpret the rich and diverse maritime history of the Santa Barbara Channel. Founded by a group of fishermen, divers, and sailors who are a part of this exciting history, SBMM centered on interactivity and the founders envisioned it as a place where the public could experience maritime culture without leaving the harbor.

Santa Barbara is a coastal community, with a strong, varied maritime history and the Santa Barbara Channel is an important part of our culture that is rich in history and natural resources. SBMM provides hands-on learning opportunities for all ages to delve into that history. Through interactive learning opportunities, SBMM hopes to instill a love and respect for our Santa Barbara Channel, for the people who make their living on its waters, for those who enjoy its recreational activities, and for the abundant marine life that calls these waters home.

The museum has nearly 8,000 square feet of exhibits, as well as docking space for three historic vessels. An additional 5,000 square foot warehouse off-site allows for artifact collection and storage. The 88-seat, high-definition Munger Theater also provides a venue for films, lectures, and panel discussions on all things maritime. SBMM currently has a membership base of nearly 2,000 members. Attendance approaches 40,000 visitors annually.

Our Mission

Creating quality exhibits and educational experiences that celebrate the Santa Barbara Channel and illuminate our rich connections with the sea.

Vision Statement

To be the recognized flagship institution for information on the Santa Barbara Channel by showcasing our rich maritime history, presenting inspirational programs, and prompting insightful discussions about the future of our coastal community.

Our Financials

SBMM is a nonprofit organization (Tax ID#: 77-0392953) that relies on funds raised through ticket sales, membership, education programs, private events, and generous donations from the community. More information can be found on our Donor Bill of Rights, Donor Privacy Policy, Annual Appeal (May 2020), IRS 990 (FY 17, FY 18, FY 19), and Audited Financial Statements (FY 16, FY 17,  FY 18, FY 19).

Overview of Operations and Programs

• SBMM plans to open three to four exhibits annually over the next two years, including the upgrading of existing exhibits along with new, temporary or traveling exhibitions and rotating art exhibitions featuring local artists.
• SBMM’s Educational Programs encourage curiosity through exhibits, experiential learning, and community outreach programs with special emphasis on California’s maritime history and human interactions with the sea. These programs include: Maritime on the Move, Love Letters to the Sea, Girls in Ocean Science, Tall Ship Program, Marine Science, Ocean Connections, SBMM at Home, and Docent-led Field Trips.
• Each month, SBMM brings local and visiting lecturers to our community to discuss a wide variety of ocean-related topics, including the history of the Channel Islands, the life of female lighthouse keepers along the California Coast, or the abalone fishing industry.

Our Founders

Top row left to right: Lee Fleischer, John Poucher, Bob Kieding, Fred Rice, Milt Schwartz, Miriam Polne-Fuller, Clyde Kirkpatrick, Steve Hicks

Front row left to right: Barry Schuyler, Nick DiNapoli, Peter Howorth, Tom Fuller, Rusty Fairly, Steve Chaparro. Absent: Barry Berkus, Ed Cassano, Llew Goodfield, and Leslie Leaney

Local Recognition

• Santa Barbara Region Chamber of Commerce’s 2019 NonProfit of the Year 
• Named in MarinaLife Magazine as 1 of the Top 10 Maritime Museum in the U.S.
• George & Vivian Obern Preservation Stewardship Award, presented by Santa Barbara Trust for Historic Preservation.
• Designated a Green Business Program by the Green Business Program of Santa Barbara County (GBPSBC), honoring businesses in Carpinteria, Santa Barbara, Goleta, Buellton, Solvang, Santa Maria and Guadalupe, as well as the unincorporated areas of the County, that operate in an environmentally-responsible manner and recognizing them for their efforts.

Community Contributions

The Santa Barbara Maritime Museum is first and foremost an educational institution. As such, the Museum provides most of its children’s programs at no or low-cost to enable underserved youth the opportunity to benefit from extracurricular enrichment activities and to learn about and experience Santa Barbara’s maritime history and heritage. In 2019-2020, SBMM programs served 7,151 children from throughout Santa Barbara County, two-thirds of whom came from Title I schools.

Partners

SBMM has developed collaborative partnerships with many complementary organizations, including:

the Santa Barbara Natural History Museum and its Sea Center, the Santa Barbara Historical Museum, the Santa Barbara Trust for Historic Preservation, SBCC, UCSB, the Chumash Maritime Association, the Harbor Patrol, the Santa Barbara Waterfront Department, the Historical Diving Society, the National Park Service, NOAA, Santa Barbara Navy League, the Ocean Institute, the Santa Barbara County Education Office, the U.S. Coast Guard, Santa Cruz Island Foundation, Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary, Pierre Claeyssens Veterans Foundation, Ocean Futures Society, Santa Barbara Channel Keepers, FishSB, Sea Landing, and Partners in Education.

The museum’s unique focus in all of these partnerships is to provide holistic and hands-on maritime education on the local coastal environment, history and human interactions with the sea.