Santa Cruz Island is also known for an acoustic range facility that was located on the island and is detailed in one of the newer Museum military exhibits upstairs. Known as SCARF and created by the AC Electronics Division of General Motors Corporation, the Santa Cruz Acoustic Range Facility was a three-dimensional acoustic tracking range south of the Santa Barbara Channel Islands off the California coast.
It contained four bottom-mounted hydrophones, located in 4,000 feet of water, which were cabled to an underwater termination chamber at a depth of 60 feet. Additional cables led from the chamber to the control center located on Santa Cruz Island. Designed originally to pick up submarines in the adjacent waters, the system tracked a target in 3D in the spherical mode using three hydrophones. The system is no longer used, and all buildings have been removed.
Learn About Our Other Museum Exhibits
Santa Barbara Maritime Museum has several other fascinating exhibits, and there's something fun for everyone in the family. Come learn about 13,000 years of human history in the Santa Barbara Channel, including the Chumash Indians, deep sea divers, shipwrecks, commercial fishing, and so much more. We also have several contemporary exhibits about the evolution of surfing, oil spills, whales, and marine life. There are several fun and interactive exhibits and activities for kids too.