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Coastal Chronicles: Morro Bay Maritime Museum

Morro Bay Maritime Museum - Outside of the museum
Camille Reddick
Camille Reddick
March 8, 2024

Morro Bay has no shortage of beautiful things to do and see! Known for its beaches, lagoons, rock formations, and birding trails, Morro Bay is widely considered one of the most beautiful spots on California's coast. This is why people come from around the world to soak in the natural maritime beauty of Morro Bay! For people who want to go deeper into the history and ecology of the area, no attraction tops the Morro Bay Maritime Museum. Here's what you need to know about visiting!

About the Museum

AVALON vessel

The museum was initially called the Central Coast Maritime Museum Association (CCMMA) when founded in 1995. Over the years, the museum has hosted a number of attractions and events. The Morro Bay Harbor Festival and Maritime Heritage Pavilion are two notable standouts. In addition, the museum routinely hosts sea vessels of importance. The Hawaiian Chieftain, Lady Washington, Spindrift, San Salvador, La Nina replica, and Australian HMS Endeavour replica are some famous ships on display here. Some of the permanent vessels on display are the DSRV Avalon and Alma. Film buffs will recognize that the Avalon was featured in 1990's "Hunt for Red October" and 2018's "Hunter Killer."

The Morro Bay Maritime Museum proudly helps to preserve the maritime culture of California's coast. One of the ways that the organization does this is through maintaining a world-class research library. In this library collection, researchers can find historical photographs, videos, and oral histories from California history periods. In addition, the museum has created the Central Coast Maritime Oral History Program to capture and memorialize the history and personal stories of those linked to the local maritime industry in both the present and the past.

Getting to the Museum

Kids at the Morro Bay Maritime Museum

The Morro Bay Maritime is at the heart of everything at 1210 Embarcadero in Morro Bay. The museum is just across the street from the famous T-Pier on the Morro Bay waterfront! That means the rest of the natural attractions, shops, and restaurants in this beautiful slice of San Luis Obispo County will be yours to enjoy! The museum is open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. from Thursday to Monday. It is closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. With the museum hosting so many special events and festivals throughout the year, it's always wise to check the calendar of events to see if an amazing event lines up with your visiting date! Larger parties can also book private museum tours.

Enjoying the Best of Morro Bay

There's no doubt that Morro Bay is an incredible place to come to unwind amidst beautiful scenery! The food and shopping are also terrific. However, people visiting the area for the first time may not be aware that Morro Bay is also home to rare and unique attractions. Keep this list of unusual things to do in Morro Bay, CA, handy as you travel around town!

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