Western Galleries Campaign

The Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History is undertaking the final phase of a 20-year effort to revitalize its permanent galleries. The Western Galleries Campaign will support the Museum’s important work in iconic exhibit spaces: Earth & Marine Sciences and the hall most recently known as Chumash Life now called Gould Memorial Wing. Together, these galleries on the west side of our courtyard will tell the story of the Central Coast through its oceans, landscapes, and wildlife—and through scientific discoveries and collections that document them.

The $5.7 million project will transform exhibit halls built 70 to 100 years ago into inspiring spaces that connect visitors with the natural world, communicate current scientific understanding, and highlight the Museum's extraordinary collections and research. By repairing our infrastructure and blending historic dioramas with contemporary interpretation and storytelling, the project will ensure these galleries remain relevant and engaging for generations to come.

Earth Science  |   Marine Science  |  Gould Memorial Wing

The project includes restoration of historic dioramas, creation of new exhibits, upgraded LED lighting, HVAC improvements, accessibility enhancements, and other infrastructure investments. Together, these improvements will complete the modernization of all major Museum exhibit halls!

The total project budget is $5.7 million, including $3.5 million for exhibit renovation and $2.2 million for infrastructure improvements, which are already fully funded through unrestricted bequests. The campaign has secured $1.5 million to date from trustees and Museum friends, leaving $2.1 million to raise before the galleries reopen in April 2028.

LEADERSHIP

CAMPAIGN CO-CHAIRS

Palmer G. Jackson, Jr. and Glen Mitchel

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Matthew Adams, Chair
Salvatore “Tory” Milazzo, Immediate Past Chair
Bobbie Kinnear, Vice Chair Governance
Julie Heider-Gray, Vice Chair Finance
Sarah Sheshunoff, Vice Chair Development
Keith Reichel, Vice Chair Master Plan
Barbara Holzman, Ph.D., Secretary
S. Timothy Kochis, At Large

Hiroko Benko
John L. Demourkas
Kathleen Kalp
Kendra Epley
Venesa Faciane
Melissa J. Fassett
Lucy Firestone
Gregory Fuss
Kirk Gilbert
Greg Giloth
Bethany Harkrider
Corinne Laverty
Hank Mitchel
Michael Mongold
Susan Parker
Brett W. Piersma
David Telleen-Lawton
Lotus Vermeer, Ph.D.
Robin Yardi

HONORARY TRUSTEES

David H. Anderson
Elisabeth Fowler
Palmer G. Jackson, Jr.
F. Brian Rapp
Janet Sands

PRESIDENT & CEO

Luke J. Swetland

DIRECTOR OF PHILANTHROPY

Caroline Baker

EXHIBIT TEAM

Director of Collections & Research, Howard/Berry Chair of Malacology Henry Chaney, Ph.D.
Associate Director of CRC, Curator of Vertebrate Zoology Krista Fahy, Ph.D.
Dibblee Curator of Earth Science Jonathan Hoffman, Ph.D.
Director of Exhibits Melinda Morgan-Stowell
Graphics & Exhibit Designer Jenna Savage Davis
Chief Operations Officer Amy Carpenter
Director of Capital Projects Kevin Genovese
Design Consultant Kevin Sayama
Design Consultant Jonathan Spaulding
Schipper Construction
Mithun Architects