Ranger Celebrates 110 Years of Maritime History in 2027
For more than a century, Ranger has carried stories across the water – of adventure, innovation, and life along the California coast. Launched in 1917, she is the oldest vessel in the Santa Barbara Harbor and the first private big-game fishing yacht built on the West Coast. As flagship of the Catalina Island Tuna Club, Ranger welcomed legendary anglers like Zane Grey, Humphrey Bogart, and John Wayne, setting records and shaping a golden era of sportfishing.
Today, Ranger remains the heart of the Santa Barbara Maritime Museum—a living artifact of craftsmanship, with her original teakwood, graceful lines, and enduring seaworthiness intact. Thanks to the vision and generosity of Jack Morehart, her restoration and donation transformed Ranger into the museum’s first major exhibit, an enduring symbol of our maritime heritage.
In 2027, Ranger turns 110 years old. This milestone is more than a celebration – it’s a call to action. Preserving a vessel of this age and significance requires ongoing care, skilled craftsmanship, and community support. Your gift helps ensure that Ranger continues to educate, inspire, and connect future generations to the stories of our coast and our sea.
Join us in honoring Ranger’s legacy and securing her future!
Other Ways to Give
1. Donations may be received in the mail. Please make checks payable to Santa Barbara Maritime Museum and send to:
Santa Barbara Maritime Museum
113 Harbor Way, Ste. 190
Santa Barbara, CA 93109
2. Gifts of securities can be made by contacting SBMM Development Director Emily Duncan at (805) 456-8744 or emailing eduncan@sbmm.org for brokerage firm and stock transfer information.
3. Charitable distributions can come from your Fidelity Charitable or Schwab Charitable donor advised fund account.
4. Become a member!