The SBMM is located at the newly renovated Santa Barbara Waterfront Center, the heart of our community's working harbor. Interpreting, researching and educating the community about our maritime heritage and interaction with the marine environment will be the focus of the museum. Our region is rich in linkages to the sea, from sailing, commercial fishing, military, etc., to the presence of a national marine sanctuary and national park. The museum will break the mold of how "traditional museums' are defined.

This new institution will be a "living museum," folded into the very fabric of the community. As an example, our collaboration with the Chumash community has provided a unique exhibit of their rich maritime culture. Do not be surprised when the Chumash canoe (tomol), the centerpiece of the display, is found paddling the waters of Santa Barbara. The spirit of this tomol will not be bound in a glass case; our link to the past will shine a light into the future, guiding us forward as well as enlightening our present day lives.

This unique philosophy will be pervasive throughout all our exhibits as we work with the various community elements that comprise the rich maritime heritage of this region. Our interactive exhibits, our desire to collaborate with many of the other outstanding institutions already present in Santa Barbara, our collections, research and curatorial programs and the development of strong educational programming will be the cornerstones of this new institution.

The SBMM will be a forum for high-tech multimedia presentations. Sailing from the back wall of the museum is a replica of a Wilson Brothers lumber schooner that contains the Munger Theater. The theater will be used for lectures, films and multimedia presentations. This high-tech environment is capable of showing everything from archival films to digital media.

The SBMM invites the community to become part of history and help build this latest addition to Santa Barbara's nonprofit institutions.