GALLERIES OPEN: Thursday - Monday 12 - 4 PM (closed Tues & Weds). Free tour with admission.
Speaker Series - Guardians of the Waters: The Evolution of U.S. Coast Guard Maritime Response
Join us as USCG LT Brandon Collins takes us on a fascinating look at how 9/11 transformed the Coast Guard’s maritime response. Discover how today’s Coast Guard tackles all-hazards emergencies, from major harbor evacuations and disaster relief to complex offshore incidents and maritime threats.
Time & Location
Sep 11, 2026, 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Channel Islands Maritime Museum, 3900 Bluefin Cir, Oxnard, CA 93035, USA
About the event
Join us at the Channel Islands Maritime Museum for an engaging presentation exploring the historic transformation of the United States Coast Guard's maritime response capabilities.
Prior to September 11, 2001, the Coast Guard operated under the Department of Transportation, maintaining a primary focus on routine search and rescue, marine safety and environmental protection. The events of 9/11, beginning with the heroic coordination of the Manhattan boatlift that evacuated over 300,000 civilians in under nine hours, fundamentally expanded the Coast Guard's operational mandate and triggered the most significant structural reorganization of the service since World War II.
Featuring a screening of the short documentary "Boatlift" (narrated by Tom Hanks), this talk explores how the Coast Guard stood up unified Sector Commands, integrated advanced maritime domain awareness, and modernized its all-hazards response framework. From historic harbor evacuations and major disaster relief to modern offshore operations along California's coast, discover how today's Coast…