Maritime enthusiasts are in luck. The Channel Islands Maritime Museum will reopen its doors for the first time since March 2020 on July 4^th.

Museum officials said they will be implementing a variety of safety measures – including wearing facemasks and limiting the number of visitors at once – that will assure visitors will be able to enjoy its galleries and collections.

The Museum will reopen its doors at noon and will feature a new exhibit, “How Prohibition Changed Ventura County.” The exhibit will be on display until Aug. 24, 2020.

The exhibit looks back on the 100^th Anniversary of Prohibition and its impact in Ventura County. Rumrunning, the organized smuggling of imported whiskey, rum, and other liquor by sea and overland to the United States, started within weeks after Prohibition took effect on January 17, 1920. People still wanting to wet their whistles in illegal speakeasies and at home were rejecting foul-tasting and dangerous locally made industrial alcohol being passed off as the real thing. They were demanding quality, authentic Scotch and other liquor “right off the boat.” Learn about prohibition in this exhibit at Channel Islands Maritime Museum.

As of July 4th, Museum hours: Fri-Sun noon-4 p.m. Blue Fin Gifts is also open by appointment 10 a.m. – noon and 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Mon-Thurs.

About the Channel Islands Maritime Museum

Nestled on the coast of Southern California, in Ventura County, supported by a vibrant community of art aficionados, a steady, year-round influx of art seekers from the area, and tourists from around the world, Channel Islands Maritime Museum is perfectly poised to bring vibrant and innovative art to the forefront of the local art scene. The Museum is located in the beautiful Channel Islands Harbor, 3900 Bluefin Circle, Oxnard, CA 93035.

The new operating hours are Fri-Sun 12-4 p.m. Admission rates are free for members and children under 6, $7 adults, $5 seniors (62+)/military and their families/students any age with valid ID, and $3 children (ages 6-17).

Info: cimmvc.org or (805) 984-6260. Explore galleries full of rare and beautiful maritime paintings dating back to the 1600s, more than seventy world-class models of historic ships, rotating thematic fine arts exhibitions that encourage visitors to expand their horizons about everything maritime.

Editor’s Note: this story was published on June 24, 2020.