Welcome to the Gulf Coast Maritime Museum
Our mission is to inspire, create awareness, and provide resources to our visitors, members,
and supporters who share a common interest in the Gulf Coast’s maritime legacy.
Welcome to the Gulf Coast Maritime Museum
Our mission is to inspire, create awareness, and provide resources to our visitors, members, and supporters who share a common interest in the Gulf Coast’s maritime legacy.
Our Maritime Focus
The Gulf Coast Maritime Museum creates awareness that educates, inspires and preserves Florida’s rich Gulf Coast maritime heritage.
How We Fulfill Our Mission
Education
We develop media including stories, videos, illustrations and oral histories for our members and partners.
Collaboration
We collaborate with a network of maritime-focused non-profits and museums along the Florida Gulf Coast.
Preservation
We work to preserve classic boats, designs, models, and historic maritime documents for all to enjoy.
Featured Monthly Story:
The Weedon Island Canoe
In 2001, a remarkable piece of that deep past resurfaced—a 40-foot ancient dugout canoe buried in mangrove peat. This extraordinary vessel represents the longest prehistoric dugout ever uncovered in Eastern North America and Florida’s only ancient saltwater canoe. Beyond its structural scale, the artifact offers an irreplaceable lens into the engineering, culture, and coastal livelihoods of Florida’s pre-Columbian inhabitants.
Nautical News, Tidbits and Tales
Our blog includes interesting maritime information from the Florida Gulf Coast.
DIY Hull Protection Tips
This month, on the scale of DIY boat owner difficulty, this is one just about everyone can master. What can be a challenge is selecting the proper material and following some time-tested maritime techniques.
02
Oct
Oct
USA Wins 2026 ILCA Cup
Twenty-six-year-old Houston, TX native Charlotte Rose has won the International Laser Class Association 6 Women’s World Championship. A 2022 graduate of Jacksonville University,
30
Sep
Sep
2026 Tampa Bay Boat Show
Known as the largest boating event in the Tampa Bay area, this is a mega showcase for local boat dealers and manufacturers. Sailboats are generally not featured; the event is Sponsored and Produced by the [...]
25
Sep
Sep
UWF Named Center of Excellence
In a related story to Port Tampa Bay’s historic growth, UWF has just been designated one of only 16 centers for Domestic Maritime Workforce Training and Education.
22
Sep
Sep
Port Tampa Recongnized
The US Transportation Secretary visited Port Tampa Bay to announce federal investments and recognize a historic summer that saw unprecedented expansion and development.
22
Sep
Sep
Captain Fight Shellfish Poaching
The Anna Maria Islander reports a successful coordinated effort between a coalition of Sarasota Bay charter captains and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission.
29
Aug
Aug
Solo Arctic Circumnavigation
If completed, this will be the first solo circumnavigation of the Arctic Ocean ever. According to the NPR report, the skippers growing concern as fall approaches; Icebergs.
27
Aug
Aug
Grady White Stays Afloat
Instead of selling the company for over $400 million, 83-year-old owner Eddie Smith Jr. transferred ownership to a perpetual purpose trust and a nonprofit.
22
Aug
Aug
Curated Calendar of Events
Featuring relevant, interesting, and educational events of all types hosted by Gulf Coast Maritime Museum and our partners.
october, 2026
“Whenever I find myself growing grim about the mouth, whenever it is a damp, drizzly November in my soul…
I account it high time to get to sea as soon as I can.”
– Herman Melville, Moby Dick
Support the GCMM!
The Gulf Coast Maritime Museum welcomes partnerships with maritime and historical organizations and gratefully accepts donations from corporate and individual sponsors. We also welcome resources, archive materials, and help from interested volunteers.
Will you help us continue our important work?
Don’t Miss A Story!
The Gulf Coast has a rich maritime history beginning with the Spanish arrival in the early 16th Century and it continues today, 500 year later.
Sign up for our monthly newsletter and you’ll never miss an interesting story about the many cultures, people, commerce, and ships that have plied the Gulf.
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