“The Maritime Museum of San Diego’s mission is to serve as the community memory of our seafaring experience by collecting, preserving and presenting our rich maritime heritage,” says Theresa Smullen, director of marketing and public relations for the museum.
The attraction regularly hosts exhibitions and public events, and its collections includes 10 historical vessels from as early as the 16th century.
“Group charters are available aboard the museum’s 1542 Spanish galleon replica, San Salvador, and the state’s official tall ship, the Californian,” says Smullen. Knowledgeable museum docents and skilled volunteers lead these excursions, which typically last 2–4 hours. Charters also include admission to the museum and all its ships.
“Other popular points of interest are the U.S. and Soviet submarines. The Foxtrot B-39 Russian submarine houses a complete interactive exhibit, ‘To the Brink of War,’ complete with video, light and sound.”
In early 2019, the museum will debut the exhibit “Sea Monsters: Delving into the Deep Myth” aboard the ship Star of India. Museum guests will learn about the factual animals that inspired historical sea monster lore, monster mythology’s cultural significance and how ideas about creatures from the deep have changed over time.
For more information, email Warren Potts, the museum’s director of international relations for travel trade and group tours, or visit sdmaritime.org.
Top photo: Group on board the San Salvador
Photo by Maritime Museum of San Diego
