Rum Running, Sailors & Prohibition Exhibit Opening & Reception

The Santa Barbara Maritime Museum is pleased to announce the opening of its latest exhibit, Rum Running, Sailors & Prohibition. Many of the exhibited items are on loan from the Maritime Museum of San Diego. Additional artifacts and material highlight local rum running in Santa Barbara, one of the busiest places in California during Prohibition. The exhibit tells the story of rum, the part it played in the rich history of sea-going men and its connection to Santa Barbara. Covering more than 400 years, the exhibit illustrates the new worlds first distilled spirit, from its origins on 17th century Caribbean sugar cane plantations to the role of slavery, including: The stories of British and American sailors; Prohibition bootlegging / rum running- the organized smuggling of imported whiskey, rum and other liquor by sea and over land in the United States Speakeasies, highlighting the story of pioneer rum runner Bill McCoy and Real McCoy Rum. As an added highlight, Real McCoy Rum will be pouring rum cocktails at the opening reception. This engaging and educational experience will surely be enjoyed by rum and maritime buffs. ~ ~ ~ Since 2000, the Santa Barbara Maritime Museum has featured many artifacts and stories to share the history of the Santa Barbara Channel with more than 40,000 visitors annually and provides year-round experiential maritime history and marine science education for local youth. Featuring the impressive First-Order Fresnel Lighthouse Lens from Point Conception, SBMM’s current exhibits explore The History of Oil in the Santa Barbara Channel, Honda Disaster, and Wives and Daughters: Keepers of the Light. SBMM is located at the historic Santa Barbara Harbor at 113 Harbor Way, Suite 190, Santa Barbara, CA 93109. Visit sbmm.org or call (805) 962-8404 for details.