See the Islands Without a Boat!
Your island journey begins at the Chrisman California Islands Center.
Through our public exhibit space and courtyard gallery, learn what it means to save island history and tell their stories.
CCIC has thoughtfully curated exhibits, interactive displays, and fun activities for students of all ages.
Exhibits & Courtyard Gallery
Island Art
The Chrisman California Islands Center is home to the historical art collection of Dr. Carey Stanton. Dr. Stanton spent half a century collecting art of the California Channel Islands, most specifically Santa Cruz Island. Within the archives, there is also the extensive collection from the Santa Cruz Island Foundation. After Stanton’s death, Marla Daily, significantly expanded the Foundation’s art collection to not only include Santa Cruz Island but all eight California Channel Islands. Since then, other islands such as the Farallones have been added to the Foundation’s collection.
Historically, there are very few 19th century Island artists because it was difficult to travel to the islands and artists would have to bring all their equipment and camp for days to reach a location.
In addition to paintings, the Chrisman California Islands Center is also home to sculptures, murals, photography, videography, ceramics, metal work, etc.
A majority of pieces are displayed in the Archives which is available by appointment only.
Diebenkorn Gallery
Carey & Witz - A unique friendship. Dr. Carey Stanton and Richard Diebenkorn first met in 1940 as freshmen at Stanford University. This was the start of their 47 year friendship. Stanton was best man at Diebenkorn’s wedding to Phillis Gilman at Trinity Episcopal Church in Santa Barbara in 1943. He nicknamed Diebenkorn “Witz” from the time someone introduced the fledgling painter incorrectly as “Diebowitz.” After Stanton moved to Santa Cruz Island, over the next 30 years, Diebenkorn and his family made frequent island visits. Stanton began to acquire Diebenkorn's work, eventually accumulating 45 pieces. Many of the works were painted on Santa Cruz Island. The intimate but intense Diebenkorn works chart the friendship between the artist and Carey Stanton. After Carey Stanton's death in 1987, the collection of paintings became property of the Santa Cruz Island Foundation, which Stanton established in 1985 to preserve and document the culture of the Channel Islands.
The Santa Barbara Amateur Radio Club (SBARC) was established in 1920 and has operated continuously ever since. SBARC promotes education for persons interested in telecommunications, to disseminate information about scientific discoveries and progress in the field, and to train communicators for public service and emergency communications.
Ham Radio Station
The station inside CCIC is dedicated to Ted Green: Ted Green (1934-2001) was a communications technician in civil service for the Department of Defense, Pacific Missile Test Center, Point Mugu. He served six years on Santa Cruz Island, where, during his spare time he designed, installed, and maintained radio telephone equipment. Ted Green founded the Santa Cruz Island Communications Company which, in 1973, leased two communication sites on the island from the Santa Cruz Island Company. Green was partners with Carey Stanton, Henry Duffield, Jr. and Rick Lagomarsino. The company installed and maintained communications equipment atop Picacho Diablo, Santa Cruz Island for decades. They also sublet space to others desiring a communication system on the island's peaks of Picacho Diablo and Mount Pleasant. In 1987 with the death of Carey Stanton, The Nature Conservancy cancelled the operations of the Santa Cruz Island Communications Company. Ted Green died of cancer on November 3, 2001.
Rotating Exhibit
No special reservations are required to visit the installations featured in CCIC’s rotating exhibit case.
Silents on the Islands
October 2024 - March 2025
Did you know, that more than 250 silent movies were filmed on the Channel Islands between 1909 and 1928?
This exhibit is curated at the Chrisman California Islands Center by and through the incredible research of Islands film historian and author, Betsy J. Green.
Betsy notes that only about 14% of all silent movies have survived. The earliest films were only 5-10 minutes in length. Famous actors like Rudolph Valentino, Douglas Fairbanks, Buster Keaton, Oliver Hardy and Stan Laurel were participating in films on island beaches, coves and caves way back when. They often featured a shipwreck, pirates, mermaids, or a damsel in distress in need of rescue by a heroic man.
Although the majority of silent filming (more than 200 films) occurred on Santa Catalina Island due to its regularly scheduled transportation and available amenities, Santa Cruz Island comes in second as a location. In 1913, the Santa Cruz Island Company gave Ira Eaton exclusive rights to Pelican Bay, where Eaton built a thriving, albeit primitive resort facility. It could accommodate up to eighty people. Film companies booked the location for their movie crews, and more than 40 silent films resulted.
Betsy’s incredible book is available for sale at the Center and via our online book store here!
Past Rotating Exhibits
Coming soon!