Ventura County Maritime Museum

The mission of the Museum is to provide a rewarding museum experience based on the age of sail and to enhance the understanding of our rich maritime heritage through world-class maritime art, unique ship models, dynamic exhibits, artifacts, and educational programs

Description:
The Museum houses the largest collection of antique Prisoner of War sailing ship models on public display in the United States, including eight rare bone models made by French prisoners of the British in the 18th century. Ship models trace more than 3000 years of maritime history, from reed boats used by Peruvian fisherman and tomols made by the local Chumash natives to modern-day car carriers, including the entire life’s work and workshop of Ed Marple, one of America’s foremost ship model builders.

he Museum also has an extensive and world-class marine art collection, featuring works by the Dutch and Flemish masters, 17th century marine artists Willem van de Velde and Bonaventura Peeters, and noted modern day artists John Stobart, Montague Dawson, David Thimgan, Roy Cross, and others. Exhibits on whaling, sailor’s arts, navigation instruments, and the history of Channel Islands Harbor and Port Hueneme, the only deep-water port between Los Angeles and San Francisco, round out the permanent collection. Special topical and featured guest artist exhibitions are presented on an ongoing basis.

The Museum welcomes about 25,000 visitors annually from all over the United States, as well as from more than 30 foreign countries. The Elementary Education Program, staffed entirely by volunteers, conducts in-house tours for thousands of elementary school students each year.

Our At Sea Education program supports three-day youth sailing expeditions on board working tall ships. Special group tours are available by prior arrangement.

History:
Opened in 1991, the Ventura County Maritime Museum is an independent, not-for-profit public benefit organization chartered under the laws of the State Of California. The Museum receives financial support from members, friends, charitable foundations, and businesses. The Museum is housed in a facility built and financed by local developer and philanthropist Martin V. Smith; the building is sited on county owned property with a long-term, fee-free lease with the County of Ventura.

Contact person: Bill Conroy, Executive Director, (phone), (email)

Office fax number: (805) 984-5970

Address:

2731 S. Victoria Ave. Oxnard, CA 93035 (See a map)

Web Site: None specified

Directions:

From highway 101, exit Victoria Ave. and head south on Victoria six miles; cross Channel Islands Blvd. and turn right into the parking lot. The Museum is located in the Fisherman's Wharf development of Channel Islands Harbor at the. . . (more)

Last updated on July 30, 2009