The Santa Barbara Maritime Museum is dedicated to our mission of creating quality exhibits and educational experiences that celebrate the Santa Barbara Channel and illuminate our rich connection to the sea. We have great interest in acquiring objects that will help us promote our mission. Please take a moment to read these guidelines if you have an item that you think will enhance the collections, and would like to donate to the museum.

Please Understand That We Cannot Accept Everything

Artifacts in our collections deserve the best care we can provide. We will be most likely to accept your donation if:

It has a clear connection to the museum’s mission and locality
It is sufficiently documented so the museum can interpret it usefully for the public
It is unique to the collection, such that the museum does not already have many examples

Tell Us About It BEFORE You Bring It To Us

We ask that you complete and return the Donation Information Sheet (PDF) before bringing your item to the museum. To better assess your proposed donation and how it can contribute to the museum,

All proposed acquisitions (donations) must be approved by the museum’s Curator, Collections Committee and Board of Trustees.

The harbor facility is not presently equipped to properly store dropped-off items—our collections storage is off-site and access must be coordinated with our curator. By adhering to these procedures, you can help us provide for the safety, security, proper handling, and identification of your item from the very start.

Have It Appraised If You Want It Deducted

Your item must be properly appraised to ensure the appropriate value of your deduction. The museum is unable to appraise your proposed donation, in accordance with museum policy and ethics. However we are happy to provide references for reliable appraisers.

Name
First Last
Address
Street Address Address Line 2 City State / Province / Region ZIP / Postal Code Country
Phone
Email
What is the object?
When and Where was it made?
What materials is it made of?
Who made it?
How has this object been used? Please describe how, where, when and by whom:
How did you acquire the object?
- Purchase
- Inheritance
- Gift
- Found
- Other
Other:
When did you acquire it?
From whom did you acquire it?
Name
Relationship
Please list any previous known owners:
If this object has been damaged, please describe:
Please describe any repairs or changes that have been made to the object:
How has this object been stored or displayed (i.e. near a window, in the basement, in cardboard boxes, etc.)?
Please list any additional information regarding the object’s description, condition, origin, provenance, history, etc.:
ATTACHMENTS: PLEASE INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING DOCUMENTS:
- Photographs of the object (showing front, back and sides, if possible)
- Official appraisal information, if available
- Any credit acknowledgements or courtesy statements you wish to have noted if the object goes on display
Drop files here or
Maximum file size - 5 mega bytes.

OTHER WAYS TO SUBMIT YOUR PACKET:

Print and mail information packet to:
ATTN: Emily Falke, Curator
Santa Barbara Maritime Museum
113 Harbor Way Suite 190
Santa Barbara, CA 93109
Or scan and email this form, documents and photos to Curator Emily Falke: efalke@sbmm.org
Or, drop off the information packet, but not the item in person to the front desk during business hours, at the attention of: Emily Falke, Curator

We greatly appreciate your interest in the museum and your desire to help us build our collections! We thank you for your cooperation in our acquisition process which allows us to better serve you. Please allow some time for us to get back to you about your donation, as the item must be confirmed via Committee and our Board. Your support of SBMM is invaluable, now and always!

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Information about Donating an Artifact