SBMM Presents Play: Bronze Sculptures and Other Stuff by Susan Read Cronin

Santa Barbara Maritime Museum PresentsPlay: Bronze Sculptures and Other Stuff by Susan Read Cronin  On View August 13 – November 29, 2026A playful, story-rich exhibition exploring the breadth of human emotion through bronze, silhouettes, and poetry SBMM is delighted to ......More

Santa Barbara Maritime Museum PresentsPlay: Bronze Sculptures and Other Stuff by Susan Read Cronin  On View August 13 – November 29, 2026A playful, story-rich exhibition exploring the breadth of human emotion through bronze, silhouettes, and poetry SBMM is delighted to present Play: Bronze Sculptures and Other Stuff by Susan (Susie) Read Cronin, on view August 13 through November 29, 2026. With humor and imagination at its heart, Play invites visitors to experience the full spectrum of human feeling through Cronin’s allegorical bronze sculptures — alongside her silhouettes and poetry. Cronin’s pieces are imaginative and disarmingly joyful: small scenes that feel like fables, visual puns that reward a second look, and characters that seem to carry on secret conversations. Cronin takes the word “play” literally, as she plays with words, scale, perspective and sometimes danger. While the work often begins in laughter, it doesn’t stay on the surface. Play explores tenderness, longing, mischief, vulnerability, and wonder — reminding us that imagination and play can be both a refuge and a way of discovering the truth. In her own words, Cronin calls her work “figurative and narrative,” grounded in gesture and emotion. Her titles unlock new layers of meaning across sculpture and text. Play invites us to slow down, look closer, and rediscover the simple joy of being human. Bronze has a long and distinguished relationship with maritime history. For centuries, it has been valued for its strength, beauty, and resilience, appearing in tools, trade goods, ship fittings, and other objects shaped by life at sea. At the Santa Barbara Maritime Museum, bronze resonates not only as a historic material, but also as one deeply tied to craftsmanship, exploration, and endurance. In Play, Susan Read Cronin reimagines this storied medium through sculptures that are imaginative, lyrical, and unexpectedly expressive. Her work offers a contemporary perspective on bronze, transforming a material long associated with utility and permanence into one of wit, emotion, and wonder. In doing so, the exhibition creates a thoughtful bridge between maritime legacy and artistic invention. As an added bonus, for those of you who have always longed to understand how a bronze sculpture is made, part of the show explains and simplifies the lost wax bronze casting process. Exhibition Details Exhibition: Play: Bronze Sculptures and Other Stuff by Susan (Susie) Read CroninDates: August 13 – November 29, 2026Location: Santa Barbara Maritime Museum, 113 Harbor Way, Suite 190, Santa Barbara, CA 93109Hours: Open daily, 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.Admission: Included with museum admission (SBMM members free). About the Artist Susan (Susie) Read Cronin is a sculptor, writer, and multidisciplinary artist known for bronze sculptures that blend craft with playfulness and narrative charm. Educated at The Madeira School, she earned a B.A. in English from Williams College and studied with sculptors Jane B. Armstrong and Walter Matia. After many years working in Vermont, Cronin relocated full-time to Santa Barbara in 2016. Her work has been exhibited widely, including solo shows across Vermont, New York City, Denver, and California, and her exhibition Fables, Foibles, and Fairy Tales has traveled to 18 museums and other venues around the country. Watch the video

Santa Barbara Maritime Museum, 113 Harbor Way, Santa Barbara, CA, 93109, United States

From Local Waters to Global Change: Protecting our Ocean and Planet

Join the Santa Barbara Maritime Museum on Thursday, November 12th, for an evening with The Santa Barbara Channel Whale Heritage Area, ClientEarth USA and The Redford Center.Enjoy a thought-provoking panel exploring the health of our oceans and hear how our panelists are......More

Join the Santa Barbara Maritime Museum on Thursday, November 12th, for an evening with The Santa Barbara Channel Whale Heritage Area, ClientEarth USA and The Redford Center.Enjoy a thought-provoking panel exploring the health of our oceans and hear how our panelists are working to protect and advocate for marine life. The Redford Center will be showing an exclusive segment from the film A Life Illuminated, and the Santa Barbara Channel Whale Heritage Area will also screen a clip from their new film Whales in a Changing Ocean. After the panel, join us for a sunset reception with light bites, drinks and live music outside of the museum overlooking the harbor. Event Details:Date: Thursday, November 12th, 2026Timing: 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. (Doors at 5:30pm)Venue: Santa Barbara Maritime Museum at 113 Harbor Way, Suite 190 Please RSVP by November 6th Tickets: $10 for SBMM members and $15 for the general public. For reservations, email [email protected], or call (805) 456-8750. Register Today  

Santa Barbara Maritime Museum, 113 Harbor Way, Santa Barbara, CA, 93109, United States

Welcome Author Will Sofrin for a New Look at the Extraordinary Legacy of USCGC Eagle

Santa Barbara Maritime Museum Welcomes Author Will Sofrin for a New Look at the Extraordinary Legacy of USCGC EagleNovember Maritime Distinguished Speaker Series explores the evolution of America’s Tall Ship—from captured war prize to Coast Guard flagship, training vess......More

Santa Barbara Maritime Museum Welcomes Author Will Sofrin for a New Look at the Extraordinary Legacy of USCGC EagleNovember Maritime Distinguished Speaker Series explores the evolution of America’s Tall Ship—from captured war prize to Coast Guard flagship, training vessel, and international ambassadorSBMM welcomes Santa Barbara author, designer, and sailor Will Sofrin back to its Maritime Distinguished Speaker Series on Thursday, November 19, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. for a newly developed presentation exploring the remarkable evolution of USCGC Eagle: America’s Ambassador and the role the legendary vessel continues to play in shaping generations of U.S. Coast Guard leaders. SBMM members are invited to a pre-lecture reception from 6:15–6:45 p.m.Tickets: Free for Navigators Circle members, $10 for SBMM members, $20 for the general public, and $5 for students and educators with valid school ID or email. For reservations, visit sbmm.org, email [email protected], or call (805) 456-8750. Register Today Sofrin first spoke about Eagle at SBMM in 2024. That presentation ultimately helped inspire his newest book, USCG Cutter Eagle: The Legacy of the Coast Guard’s Flagship, published by Lyons Press in June 2026. Copies of Sofrin’s books will be available for purchase at the museum during the event.His November return to SBMM will offer audiences a significantly expanded perspective. Rather than focusing primarily on the Coast Guard’s early history in California, Sofrin will trace the evolution of the service alongside the extraordinary transformation of Eagle—from her beginnings in prewar Germany to her nearly eight decades as the flagship of the United States Coast Guard. From Horst Wessel to America’s Tall ShipBuilt at the Blohm & Voss shipyard in Hamburg, Germany, and launched in 1936 as Horst Wessel, the three-masted barque began life as a sail-training vessel for Nazi Germany. Following World War II, the ship was taken by the United States as a war reparation and commissioned into the U.S. Coast Guard in 1946 as Eagle.What followed was one of the most remarkable transformations in modern maritime history. Over the ensuing decades, Eagle became far more than a sailing vessel. Today, she serves as the Coast Guard’s flagship, a working classroom at sea, a platform for international diplomacy, and an enduring symbol of seamanship, service, and leadership. Learning to Lead at SeaAt 295 feet long with more than 23,000 square feet of sail, Eagle provides Coast Guard Academy cadets and officer candidates with an immersive environment unlike anything found in a traditional classroom.Under sail, cadets learn navigation, ship handling, teamwork, discipline, and leadership while confronting the physical and mental demands of life at sea. Working aloft in the rigging, standing watch, handling lines, navigating changing weather, and operating as part of a ship’s company require young officers to learn quickly how individual actions affect the entire crew.For Sofrin, that is central to understanding why Eagle remains relevant in the modern Coast Guard.His presentation will examine not only how the vessel has changed during her long career, but why a sailing ship built nearly a century ago continues to play such an important role in preparing future Coast Guard officers. A Firsthand PerspectiveSofrin brings an unusual perspective to the story. Having been a licensed captain, professional sailor, and wooden boat shipwright, he has logged more than 30,000 blue-water miles and has spent his career immersed in many aspects of the maritime industry.He has been invited aboard Eagle as a captain’s guest for multiple training exercises in the North Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, giving him the opportunity to experience firsthand the ship, her crew, and the demanding environment in which Coast Guard cadets learn.Those experiences became part of a much larger journey of research that culminated in USCG Cutter Eagle: The Legacy of the Coast Guard’s Flagship. The book traces Eagle’s history through the experiences of the cadets, officers, commanders, and crews who have sailed aboard her and examines how the vessel evolved from a captured ship of war into an American symbol of leadership and international engagement.Sofrin is also the author of All Hands on Deck: A Modern-Day High Seas Adventure to the Far Side of the World and his forthcoming book, Hands On: Build Skills, Gain Experience, and Create Opportunities That Matter, set to be published in March 2027. He has also contributed to numerous publications, including Classic Boat Magazine, Cruising World, and Yachting World.“Eagle is much more than a historic ship,” said Sofrin. “She is a living laboratory where generations of young Coast Guard officers have learned what it means to lead, work as a team, and meet challenges at sea. Her transformation and continued relevance make her story unlike that of any other vessel.”Guests will also have an opportunity to purchase Sofrin’s books at the event. Event DetailsMaritime Distinguished Speaker SeriesWill Sofrin: USCGC Eagle America’s AmbassadorThursday, November 19, 20267:00 p.m.Santa Barbara Maritime Museum113 Harbor Way, Santa Barbara The Maritime Distinguished Speaker Series is sponsored by Marie L Morrisroe

Santa Barbara Maritime Museum, 113 Harbor Way, Santa Barbara, CA, 93109, United States

Museum Closed Thursday, November 26, 2026

We’re taking a short break to celebrate the holiday. SBMM is closed today and will reopen on the next regular business day. See you soon!

Santa Barbara Maritime Museum, 113 Harbor Way, Santa Barbara, CA, 93109, United States

SBMM Presents Man at Sea: A Kayaker’s Journey — A Powerful New Exhibition by Chuck Graham

SBMM Presents Man at Sea: A Kayaker’s Journey — A Powerful New Exhibition by Chuck GrahamWritten excerpts and photography document an epic coastal passage from Mendocino to the Santa Barbara Channel IslandsSBMM is proud to present Man at Sea: A Kayaker’s Journey, a movi......More

SBMM Presents Man at Sea: A Kayaker’s Journey — A Powerful New Exhibition by Chuck GrahamWritten excerpts and photography document an epic coastal passage from Mendocino to the Santa Barbara Channel IslandsSBMM is proud to present Man at Sea: A Kayaker’s Journey, a moving new exhibition by acclaimed writer, photographer, and sea kayaker Chuck Graham. Featuring striking photographs and written excerpts from Graham’s experiences navigating the Pacific coastline — from Mendocino to the Santa Barbara Channel and the Channel Islands — the exhibition invites visitors into a world where the ocean’s vastness is both awe-inspiring and humbling, and where endurance, adaptation, and curiosity become essential tools for survival. On view December 10, 2026 through March 28, 2027, Man at Sea is more than a travelogue. It is an intimate portrait of vulnerability and willpower, told through moments of glassy calm and sudden chaos—storms, wind, high seas, and the raw unpredictability that defines life on the water. The exhibition explores the timeless maritime theme at its core: the ocean’s immense scale and power compared to the relatively small, fragile human body—yet also the remarkable human capacity to persevere. “Man at sea is a phrase that carries real weight,” said Graham. “Out there, you’re reminded quickly that you’re not in control—nature is. And that’s the point. The ocean strips things down to what matters: awareness, humility, resilience, and gratitude.” A Journey Measured in Miles—and MeaningThrough Graham’s lens and prose, visitors follow a coastal journey shaped by exposure and elemental intensity. The work confronts essential questions that rise with every swell and gust:● What does it mean to be alive — human — vulnerable?● What is our purpose in a vast universe — especially when the horizon feels endless? Rather than answering these questions outright, Graham’s exhibition holds them up like a compass—inviting each viewer to reflect on their own relationship to risk, wonder, solitude, and the natural world. “Chuck’s work captures something profoundly maritime: the moment you realize you’re both small and connected,” said Director of Collections and Exhibits/Curator Emily Falke. “His photographs and writing bring visitors face-to-face with the ocean’s scale and beauty, while also revealing the human spirit that keeps returning to the water — again and again.” Words and Images, Side by SideWhat makes Man at Sea uniquely immersive is its pairing of written excerpts with photography—a dialogue between what the eye sees and what the mind wrestles with offshore. The images offer vivid evidence of place: open water, rugged shoreline, shifting weather, and the long rhythm of miles. The text offers the internal tide: thought, uncertainty, presence, fear, resolve, and the quiet revelations that arrive only when you are far from shore.Together, they create a gallery experience that feels like stepping into a moving expedition—one driven not only by distance, but by the hunger to understand what lies beyond the next headland, and within ourselves. Exhibition DetailsExhibition: Man at Sea: A Kayaker’s Journey — Chuck GrahamLocation: Santa Barbara Maritime Museum, 113 Harbor Way, Suite 190, Santa Barbara, CA 93109On View: Dec 10, 2026 – Mar 28, 2027Museum Hours: Daily 10-5 p.m.Admission: Included with museum admission (SBMM members free).________________________________________ About the Artist: Chuck GrahamChuck Graham is a writer, photographer, and lifelong ocean adventurer whose work is rooted in the lived experience of coastal exploration. Known for his vivid storytelling and deep respect for wild places, Graham documents the intersections of nature, endurance, and the human search for meaning—often from the narrow, intimate perspective of a sea kayak. Media Contact:Heather BehrensSanta Barbara Maritime MuseumPhone: (805) 456-8751Email: [email protected]

Santa Barbara Maritime Museum, 113 Harbor Way, Santa Barbara, CA, 93109, United States

Members Only Exhibit Opening: Man at Sea: A Kayaker’s Journey — Chuck Graham

Man at Sea: A Kayaker’s Journey is a striking new SBMM exhibit by writer, photographer, and sea kayaker Chuck Graham, featuring powerful images and written excerpts from his coastal passage from Mendocino to the Santa Barbara Channel Islands. Through moments of calm and......More

Man at Sea: A Kayaker’s Journey is a striking new SBMM exhibit by writer, photographer, and sea kayaker Chuck Graham, featuring powerful images and written excerpts from his coastal passage from Mendocino to the Santa Barbara Channel Islands. Through moments of calm and chaos—storms, wind, and open-water miles—the exhibit captures the ocean’s vast scale and our human vulnerability, while celebrating resilience, adaptation, and the urge to explore. It’s an immersive invitation to reflect on what it means to be small in a big world, and fully alive on the water. Members are invited to the opening:Date: Thursday, December 10, 2026Time: 4:30-6:30 p.m.Location: Santa Barbara Maritime Museum, 113 Harbor Way, Suite 190Reservations: Call (805) 456-8750 or email [email protected] Become a member to enjoy this event.

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All Aboard for the Holidays: Festival of Trains Rolls into Santa Barbara Maritime Museum

Beloved community tradition finds a new home at SBMM December 12–13, 2026 All aboard for a beloved holiday tradition! The Santa Barbara Maritime Museum (SBMM) will welcome the Holiday Festival of Trains for a special two-day celebration on Saturday and Sunday, December ......More

Beloved community tradition finds a new home at SBMM December 12–13, 2026 All aboard for a beloved holiday tradition! The Santa Barbara Maritime Museum (SBMM) will welcome the Holiday Festival of Trains for a special two-day celebration on Saturday and Sunday, December 12 and 13, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. For more than 30 years, local resident and private collector Dave Halbeisen has shared his remarkable model train collection with the Santa Barbara community, transforming the holiday season into a miniature world of locomotives, snowy landscapes, colorful characters, and nostalgia.Long hosted at the Goleta Valley Library, the Holiday Festival of Trains is moving to the Santa Barbara Maritime Museum this year, where SBMM is proud to provide a new home for this treasured community tradition and help keep the trains running for a new generation of families. “We are delighted to welcome Dave and the Holiday Festival of Trains to the museum,” said Executive Director of the Santa Barbara Maritime Museum Dean Noble. “So many local families have wonderful memories of seeing these trains over the years. We love the idea of helping continue that tradition while introducing it to new audiences here at the harbor.” Visitors will enjoy a sampling of Halbeisen’s extensive collection, with multiple trains chugging along the tracks through festive scenes filled with miniature people, buildings, animals, and winter landscapes. The display includes Lionel Standard and three-rail O-Gauge trains, with pieces spanning eras from prewar Lionel to more modern trains and accessories. Part of the magic has always been watching the trains come to life. Halbeisen’s collection combines craftsmanship, engineering, history, and play, offering longtime train enthusiasts plenty to appreciate while giving younger visitors the chance to experience the wonder of model railroading firsthand. Over the decades, the Festival of Trains has become much more than a model train display. It has brought families, friends, collectors, and curious visitors together around the timeless appeal of trains during the holiday season. Its new setting at SBMM also offers a fitting connection. Railroads and ships have long been part of the larger story of transportation, commerce, engineering, and the movement of people and goods. Hosting the Festival of Trains gives museum visitors another opportunity to explore the creativity and ingenuity behind the machines that have connected communities for generations. Whether the Festival of Trains is already part of your family’s holiday tradition or this will be your first visit, SBMM invites guests of all ages to come experience the miniature magic. Admission is free for visitors who mention “Trains” at the front kiosk. Event DetailsHoliday Festival of TrainsSaturday & Sunday, December 12–13, 202610:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.Santa Barbara Maritime Museum113 Harbor WaySanta Barbara, CAFREE admission for visitors who mention “Trains” at the front kiosk

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Holiday Hours Thursday Dec. 24, 2026 10am-2pm

The museum will be open 10am-2pm. Happy Holidays!

Santa Barbara Maritime Museum, 113 Harbor Way, Santa Barbara, CA, 93109, United States

Museum is Closed Friday, Dec. 25, 2026

We’re taking a short break to celebrate the holiday. SBMM is closed today and will reopen on the next regular business day. See you soon!

Santa Barbara Maritime Museum, 113 Harbor Way, Santa Barbara, CA, 93109, United States

Museum Closes Early Thursday, Dec. 31, 2026

Early Closure Today: The museum will close at 3:00 PM. We apologize for any inconvenience.

Santa Barbara Maritime Museum, 113 Harbor Way, Santa Barbara, CA, 93109, United States