Presented by Greg Gorga and Holly Lohuis
Greg Gorga has served as Executive Director of the Santa Barbara Maritime Museum since 2008. In this wonderfully informative presentation, he will discuss how Santa Barbara’s unique maritime history dates back to prehistoric times, to the early human populations many scientists believe were among the first to appear on the North American continent. The talk will also cover early Spanish explorers, a visiting pirate, shipwrecks and lighthouses, the largest naval disaster in U.S. history, surfing, commercial diving, and the 1969 oil spill. This history will be illustrated with vintage postcards andphotographs.
Marine biologist, educator, expedition diver (with Jean-Michel Cousteau), and local conservationist Holly Lohuis played a pivotal role in the recent designation of the Santa Barbara Channel as the world’s ninth Whale Heritage Area. In this presentation, she will discuss the diverse cetacean (whale, dolphin, and porpoise) populations in our area. From the largest animals ever to exist on our planet, blue whales, to a population of over 25,000 resident common dolphins, we are fortunate to have such diversity and abundance of these charismatic animals in our own “front yard,” the Santa Barbara Channel. See https://www.sbwhaleheritage.org/

This course is now sold out. Please email vistas@vistaslifelonglearning.org to be placed on the waitlist.