The first European vessel to reach America's West Coast
Sixty-five years before the first English settlement on the North American continent, eighty years before Mayflower crossed a much smaller ocean to New England; Europeans sighted, charted, and made first contact with the native inhabitants of what would one day be the west coast of the United States. When the small San Salvador entered the harbor now called San Diego, the galleon was perhaps the most powerful vessel in the Pacific Ocean.
The Maritime Museum of San Diego is building a full-sized, fully functional, and historically accurate replica of Juan Rodriquez Cabrillo’s flagship, San Salvador. As a dynamic, living exhibit and educational platform for school children, residents, and visitors, this replica ship will symbolize California’s multi-cultural origins, highlight the first encounters between Europeans and Native American populations, document the dawn of the scientific revolution, translate its significance and crucial lessons concretely for all visitors but particularly for K–12 students, demonstrate advances in maritime history, and celebrate Cabrillo’s contributions as the leader of the earliest European exploration of California.
The vessel--which is part of the Museum's plan to expand its collections and programmatic capacity--will be constructed in full public view at a prominent waterfront site, giving viewers the opportunity to watch from a close perspective as an example of the first modern industrial activity in the Americas comes to life before their eyes. After construction, San Salvador will remain on exhibit as part of the Museum's fleet of historic and replica ships and will travel along the California coast as an ambassador for San Diego.
$6 Million Campaign
“Thus, said he, “will we build this ship!”
Lay square the blocks upon the slip,
And follow well this plan of mine.
Choose the timber with greatest care;
Of all that is unsound beware;
For only what is sound and strong;
To this vessel shall belong.”
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
With the sound of Longfellow’s words in our minds, we begin. The Maritime Museum is charting a new course for discovery and innovation. Through the construction of San Salvador, we are bringing to life the rich maritime history of San Diego and California.
The $6 million campaign goal is for the purpose of building a replica of Cabrillo’s flagship San Salvador ($5 million) and to build the Maritime Museum’s endowment ($1 million) that will provide funding to care for the Museum’s fleet for future generations.