SANTA BARBARA MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY
Programs
Program 1 [2020]
COLLECTIONS & RESEARCH:THIS PROGRAM ENCOMPASSES THE ACTIVITIES OF SIX RESEARCH DEPARTMENTS WITH A STAFF OF CURATORS AND ASSISTANTS. EACH DEPARTMENT IS CONTINUALLY INVOLVED IN DEVELOPING AND CONSERVING EXTENSIVE COLLECTIONS OF SPECIMENS, ARTIFACTS, BOOKS AND MANUSCRIPTS, ETC., THAT NUMBER OVER 3.5 MILLION ITEMS, AS WELL AS MAKING THESE RESOURCES ACCESSIBLE TO RESEARCHERS, EITHER DURING ACTUAL VISITS OR THROUGH WEB-BASED SERVICES. EXPENSES INCLUDE STAFF SALARIES, COLLECTION ACQUISITION, CONSERVATION, BIODIVERSITY AND ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESEARCH, PRODUCTION OF PUBLICATIONS, ECOLOGICAL FIELD SURVEYS, PUBLIC EXHIBIT DEVELOPMENT AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH.LIBRARY:THIS LIBRARY YEAR BEGAN AS ANY OTHER. THE LIBRARY HOSTED 1,462 GUESTS WITH 91 SERIOUS RESEARCH VISITS BEFORE THE PANDEMIC REQUIRED ITS CLOSURE. LIBRARY STAFF ASSISTED IN-HOUSE RESEARCHERS WITH TOPICAL SCHOLARSHIP THAT COVERED SUBJECTS FROM PREHISTORIC ZOOLOGY, GEOLOGY, GEOGRAPHY, AND HUMAN ENVIRONMENTAL ADAPTATIONS TO NATURAL HISTORY TOPICS PERTAINING TO THE HISTORIC PERIOD OF CALIFORNIA AND THE SANTA BARBARA REGION USING PUBLISHED LIBRARY COLLECTIONS. MORE ADVANCED RESEARCHERS REQUESTED PRIMARY SOURCE MATERIALS AVAILABLE IN THE ARCHIVE COLLECTIONS INCLUDING, HAZARD FAMILY PAPERS, SBMNH CORRESPONDENCE FILES (1922-1942), SBMNH PHOTOGRAPHIC COLLECTION, THE CHANNEL ISLANDS ARCHIVE, AND THE DAWSON FAMILY PAPERS. IN MID-MARCH THE PANDEMIC CHANGED OUR APPROACH TO INFORMATION ACCESS. RESEARCHERS IN NEED OF PRIMARY SOURCE MATERIALS WERE RESTRICTED TO SHORT-LENGTH SCANS THAT COULD BE PROVIDED DURING BRIEF LIBRARY OFFICE VISITS BY STAFF, AND LIBRARY WALK-IN VISITS WERE CURTAILED. EVEN SO, STAFF MANAGED TO PROVIDE IMAGES FOR THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE, UNPUBLISHED THESIS MATERIAL, AND ANSWER A NUMBER OF REFERENCE QUESTIONS USING THE LIBRARY.GeographiesNot indicatedDatesJan 1, 2020 – Dec 31, 2020Source990No causes providedNo populations provided–$1.9MProgram 2 [2020]
EXHIBITS & VISITOR SERVICES:THE MUSEUM HAS TWO SITES, ITS MISSION CREEK CAMPUS AND THE SEA CENTER LOCATED ON STEARNS WHARF.AT THE MISSION CREEK CAMPUS: WITH THE REQUIRED CLOSURES, ATTENDANCE AT BOTH LOCATIONS WAS SHARPLY REDUCED. GATE ATTENDANCE AT THE MISSION CANYON CAMPUS 2020 WAS 33,883. IN ADDITION, 6,095 CHILDREN AND ADULTS ATTENDED EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, 2,971 ATTENDED COMMUNITY RELATED EVENTS, 2,872 CAME AS VOLUNTEERS AND 134 CAME SPECIFICALLY FOR RESEARCH OR PROFESSIONAL SYMPOSIA, FOR A TOTAL ATTENDANCE AT THE MISSION CANYON CAMPUS OF 45,955.BUTTERFLIES ALIVE!THE MUSEUM REOPENED ITS OUTDOOR BUTTERFLY PAVILION IN A WAY THAT ALLOWED SOCIAL DISTANCING AND STILL, AN INTIMATE EXPERIENCE WITH BUTTERFLIES. GUESTS WERE ABLE TO MOVE THROUGH A BEAUTIFUL GARDEN WHILE ABOUT 1,000 LIVE BUTTERFLIES FLUTTERED FREELY ABOUT THEM. THE EXHIBIT FEATURED A DAZZLING VARIETY OF BUTTERFLIES FROM LOCAL FAVORITE TO EXOTIC TROPICAL VARIETIES. VISITORS LEARNED ABOUT THE LIFE CYCLE AND BEHAVIOR OF THESE SPECTACULAR INVERTEBRATES WHILE OBSERVING THE UP CLOSE. 0 TO 60: AN UNDERWATER ADVENTURE FROM THE EQUATOR TO ALASKA. A PHOTOGRAPHIC EXHIBIT BY RICHARD SALAS:AN EXHIBIT OF UNDERWATER PHOTOGRAPHY DOCUMENTING 4,000 MILES OF UNDERWATER ADVENTURE. THE EXHIBIT IS SHOWING SIMULTANEOUSLY AT TWO VENUES: THE MISSION CREEK CAMPUS AND THE SEA CENTER.CURIOSITY LAB:THE CURIOSITY LAB ALLOWS VISITORS TO EXPLORE THE NATURAL WORLD THROUGH HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES IN A DYNAMIC LEARNING LAB. VISITORS CAN BECOME NATURAL ARTISTS, TAKE AN UP-CLOSE LOOK AT OBJECTS, ASK QUESTIONS, AND PARTICIPATE IN A VARIETY OF SCIENTIFIC ACTIVITIES, INCLUDING THE NATURE EXCHANGE. THE CURIOSITY LAB HAD 8,550 VISITORS BETWEEN JANUARY 2 AND MARCH 12. IT STAYED CLOSED FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE YEAR DUE TO THE PANDEMIC. THE MUSEUM BACKYARDTHE MUSEUM'S BACKYARD IS THE PLACE FOR OUTDOOR NATURE EXPLORATION. GUESTS CAN BUILD AN OUTDOOR FORT; SEARCH FOR INVERTEBRATES IN THE MULCH PILE, EXPLORE A RECIRCULATING OUTDOOR WATERWAY, CREATE A MUDPIE, OBSERVE AUDUBON SOCIETY'S "EYES IN THE SKY" BIRDS OF PREY, AND LEARN AND PLAY IN OUR INVITING OAK WOODLAND CORRIDOR.NATURE CLUB HOUSE AND BASECAMP:THE NATURE CLUB HOUSE IS A SPACE WHERE GUESTS GET HANDS-ON WITH LIVE ANIMALS, INSECTS AND SPECIMENS FOUND IN THE OAK WOODLAND. WITH THE PANDEMIC, THE MUSEUM NATURALISTS MOVED THOSE ACTIVITIES OUTDOORS INTO THE BACKYARD. THE JOHN AND PEGGY MAXIMUS GALLERY LOCATED AT THE MISSION CANYON CAMPUS IS DEDICATED TO PRESERVATION AND DISPLAY OF ANTIQUE PRINTS PRESENTS THREE ORIGINAL EXHIBITS A YEAR WHICH HIGHLIGHT THE HISTORY AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE SCIENCES.MAXIMUS GALLERYTHE MAXIMUS GALLERY CELEBRATED ITS 25TH ANNIVERSARY IN 2020 AND THE YEAR OPENED WITH A TIMELY AND THOUGHT-PROVOKING EXHIBIT ABOUT SPECIES THAT VANISHED OVER THE PAST 150 YEARS, BENEATH A WILD SKY, STORIES OF AMERICA'S LOST BIRDS. FIRST-HAND OBSERVATIONS BY ARTISTS AND NATURALISTS SUCH AS MARK CATESBY, ALEXANDER WILSON, AND JOHN JAMES AUDUBON WERE FEATURED. IN PROPHETIC WORDS, THEY WITNESSED CHANGES WITHIN THEIR LIFETIMES AND SPECULATED ON WHAT A FUTURE IN A DIMINISHED WILDERNESS MIGHT BE LIKE. THE PRINTS IN THIS EXHIBIT WERE ORIGINAL AND MADE FROM THE ARTIST'S 18TH AND 19TH CENTURY DRAWINGS. IN SOME CASES, THEIR ILLUSTRATIONS ARE THE ONLY FAITHFUL IMAGES WE HAVE OF THESE LOST BIRDS. DUE TO THE COVID SHUT-DOWN, HUMMINGBIRDS AND WHAT'S IN OUR DRAWERS, THE SUMMER AND FALL EXHIBITS, WERE POSTPONED. AT THE SEA CENTER:AFTER CLOSING FOR THE PANDEMIC IN MARCH 2020, THE SEA CENTER REOPENED TO THE PUBLIC ON JULY 23, 2020 BY BRINGING THE AQUARIUM'S TANKS OUTSIDE TO THE GUESTS. SEA HORSES AND CORAL REEF HABITATS IN JULY, SEAHORSES AND CORAL REEF HABITATS WERE ADDED TO THE SECOND FLOOR EXHIBIT SPACE. SIX PACIFIC SEAHORSES (HIPPOCAMPUS INGENS) WERE ACQUIRED FROM CABRILLO MARINE AQUARIUM AND 10 INDIVIDUAL CORAL FRAGMENTS OF ALL DIFFERENT SPECIES WERE DONATED BY THE AQUARIUM OF THE PACIFIC. WHILE THE SEA CENTER WAS OPERATING OUTDOORS THE SEAHORSES WERE FEATURED ON LIVE CAM SO THAT VISITORS COULD GET A SENSE OF THE NEW EXHIBIT. THE CORAL HABITAT CONTINUES TO EXPAND WITH THE REGULAR ADDITION OF NEW FRAGMENTS.WHITE ABALONE CAPTIVE BREEDING PROGRAMAS A PARTNER IN THE WHITE ABALONE CAPTIVE BREEDING PROGRAM AND A MEMBER OF THE WHITE ABALONE RECOVERY CONSORTIUM, THE SEA CENTER CONTINUES TO CARE FOR WHITE ABALONE AND PARTICIPATE IN COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS SUCH AS SPAWNING ATTEMPTS. THE 2014 COHORT DISPLAY OF WHITE ABALONE WAS TAKEN OFFLINE IN MARCH, AS 50 OF THE 2014 ANIMALS WERE OUTPLANTED IN APRIL. THIS EXCITING DEVELOPMENT WAS THE FIRST OUTPLANTING OF WHITE ABALONE REARED AT THE SEA CENTER.JELLIES & FRIENDS ENTER THE MESMERIZING WORLD OF JELLIES AND WATCH THESE ELEGANT ANIMALS AS THEY UNDULATE, PULSE, AND MOVE GRACEFULLY THROUGH THE WATER. WITHOUT BONES OR HEARTS, THEY MAY SEEM OTHERWORLDLY BUT THESE FASCINATING CREATURES HAVE BEEN ON EARTH FOR HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF YEARS. EXPERIENCE THE BEAUTY AND WONDER OF OUR LOCAL JELLIES - MADE MOSTLY OF WATER, THEY ARE 100% CAPTIVATING. SHARK COVEVISITORS CAN COME FACE TO FACE WITH SURPRISINGLY DOCILE MARINE PREDATORS - COASTAL SHARKS AND RAYS, SEE BABY SHARKS STILL IN THEIR TRANSLUCENT EGG CASES, EXPLORE INTERACTIVE EXHIBITS THAT HIGHLIGHT A SHARK'S WORLD AND ENJOY THE EVER-POPULAR SHARK TOUCH POOL.INTERTIDAL WONDERSVISITORS GET THEIR HANDS WET AS THEY EXPLORE THE WONDERS AND BEAUTY OF LOCAL MARINE LIFE IN THE NEW INTERTIDAL WONDERS TOUCH POOLS. HERE ONE CAN FEEL THE STICKINESS OF A SEA ANEMONE TENTACLE OR CRADLE A HERMIT CRAB IN THE PALM OF THEIR HAND. TRAINED NATURALISTS HELP GUIDE VISITORS IN THE DISCOVERY OF A VARIETY OF MARINE INVERTEBRATES THAT CALL THE SANTA BARBARA COAST THEIR HOME.GeographiesNot indicatedDatesJan 1, 2020 – Dec 31, 2020Source990No causes providedNo populations provided–$2.6MProgram 3 [2020]
EDUCATION:THE MUSEUM'S RICH ARRAY OF EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS SERVED OVER 33,000 INDIVIDUALS IN 2020 AND ARE ON THE CUTTING EDGE OF CURRENT EDUCATIONAL PRACTICE, ESPECIALLY WITH REGARD TO INQUIRY-BASED SCIENCE EDUCATION WITH PROGRAMMING FOR EVERY MAJOR AGE GROUP, INCLUDING PRE-SCHOOLERS, K-12 STUDENTS, TEENAGERS, ADULTS, AND SENIORS. THE MUSEUM PARTICIPATES IN THE "NO CHILD LEFT INSIDE" MOVEMENT AND IS A REGIONAL LEADER OF THE NATIONAL CHILDREN AND NATURE NETWORK. THE MUSEUM ALSO RUNS A NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED TEEN PROGRAM, QUASARS TO SEA STARS, WHICH OFFERS FOUR YEARS OF EDUCATION AND WORK EXPERIENCES FOR 14 HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS. QUASARS WORKED TOGETHER TO CREATE AN EDUCATIONAL AND INTERACTIVE CURRICULUM THAT INTRODUCES STUDENTS TO THE BASIC CONCEPTS OF THE WATER CYCLE AND WATERSHEDS. IN CLASS PRESENTATIONS WERE SET TO OCCUR MARCH 9 - APRIL 24, HOWEVER, THEY WERE ONLY ABLE TO PRESENT FOR THE FIRST WEEK IN THE JUNIOR HIGH BEFORE THE FULL SHUT DOWN. DURING THE STAY AT HOME ORDER, QUASARS WORKED ON RESEARCH PROJECTS THAT WERE THEN PRESENTED IN AUGUST. THE COMMUNITY EDUCATION DEPARTMENT PROVIDED LIFELONG LEARNING FOR OVER 6,300 COMMUNITY MEMBERS THROUGH THE MUSEUM'S FESTIVALS, LECTURES, BIRDING CLASSES, ONSITE EXHIBIT THEMED PROGRAMMING, ART BLENDED SCIENCE WORKSHOPS, AND FREE PUBLIC PROGRAMS LIKE SCIENCE PUBS, AND UNDERWATER PARKS DAY. IN 2020, THESE WERE A MIX OF IN-PERSON AND VIRTUAL PROGRAMS AS CIRCUMSTANCES ALLOWED.PROGRAMS INCLUDED:COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS, A PROGRAM FOCUSING ON CLIMATE CHANGE AND IMPACTS FORM THE THOMAS FIRE AND DEBRIS FLOW 2 YEARS LATER, WAS A SUCCESSFUL COLLABORATION WITH UCSB, CEC, CHANNELKEEPER AND SB FOUNDATION WITH 300+ GUESTS IN BOTH ENGLISH AND SPANISH; A NEW ONLINE ART MEETS SCIENCE SERIES WITH TOPICS ON GEOLOGY, CORALS AND SEAHORSES; AND THE OUTDOOR HALLOWEEN PROGRAM - MUSEUM MYSTERIES, WHICH ALLOWED FAMILIES TO CELEBRATE SAFELY BY SOLVING CURIOUS MYSTERIES OF NATURAL HISTORY IN AN OUTDOOR SETTING. AFTER SCHOOL CLASSES AND CAMPSTHE MUSEUM OFFERS AFTER SCHOOL CLASSES AND CAMPS FOR CHILDREN. WINTER 2020 CLASSES WERE OCEAN THEMED AND IN PERSON. VIRTUAL CLASSES AND CAMPS WERE THEN CONCEIVED, CREATED AND DELIVERED IN RESPONSE TO THE COMMUNITY-WIDE CLOSURES. THE THEMES FOR CAMPS INCLUDED WIZARDING, ASTRONOMY, PALEONTOLOGY WEATHER, CHEMISTRY, MARINE ENVIRONMENTS AND NATURE THE MUSEUM'S SCHOOL AND TEACHER SERVICES (STS) PROGRAM PROVIDES GRADE SPECIFIC, STANDARDS ALIGNED FIELD TRIP PROGRAMS. IN 2020, THE STS DEPARTMENT HOSTED OVER 4,000 STUDENTS AT OUR TWO CAMPUSES AND ANOTHER 1,700 VIRTUALLY. THE MUSEUM CREATED THE SBNATURE FROM HOME WEB PAGE (HTTPS://WWW.SBNATURE.ORG/VISIT/SBNATURE-FROM-HOME/)IN RESPONSE TO THE COMMUNITY NEEDS TO HAVE INNOVATIVE AT HOME LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES DURING THE PANDEMIC. THE CONTENT IS ORGANIZED BY ACTIVITIES THAT CAN BE DONE OUTDOORS INDOORS OR ONLINE AND INCLUDES A GROUP STARGAZING ACTIVITY, A FOOD WEB ACTIVITY IN WHICH STUDENTS LEARN HOW ENERGY FROM THE SUN IS TRANSFERRED THROUGH FOOD CHAINS IN A MARINE ECOSYSTEM, A SUITE OF CHUMASH STORIES AND GAMES AND A GAME OF ANIMAL CHARADES HIGHLIGHTING THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WILD AND DOMESTICATED ANIMALS.GeographiesNot indicatedDatesJan 1, 2020 – Dec 31, 2020Source990No causes providedNo populations provided–$1.1M
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