Canals Across Time: Maritime Linkages to Balboa Park, 1542-1914
October 19, 2013
Dr. Ray Ashley is President and CEO of the San Diego Maritime Museum. Growing up locally, he became director of the Maritime Museum in 1995. He holds a BA in Anthropology from UCSD, an MA in Maritime History and Museum Studies from East Carolina University, and a PhD in History from Duke University, specializing in the history of science, technology and medicine. He has taught courses in history and archeology at UCSD and USD, and writes a quarterly column for the Maritime Museum’s peer reviewed journal Mains’l Haul. Ray is a licensed captain for sail, steam and auxiliary vessels of 200 tons domestic (500 tons international) registry, is the Star of India’s navigator and sails as relief captain for the other vessels of the Museum’s active fleet including the State tallship Californian, steam yacht Medea, and Pilot. He serves or has served on the Boards of the Council of American Maritime Museums, Sea Education Association of Woods Hole, MA, the North American Society for Oceanic History, the Nautical Research Guild editorial board, the American Sail Training Association, Cabrillo Festival, and the San Diego Port Tenants Association, the World Ship Trust, and is President of the American Ship Trust. He is a member of San Diego Yacht Club and serves as the club protocol officer. Ray lives in Chula Vista with his wife Carlynn (with whom he sailed a 25’ boat through the South Pacific) and daughters Brienne and Neva.