Delta Conservancy Board Approves Nearly $1M for Stockton Maritime Museum Project, Elects New Chair
July 24, 2024
WEST SACRAMENTO – The Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Conservancy Board on Wednesday elected a new chair and approved $950,000 to support the preconstruction planning activities of a historical maritime museum in Stockton that will showcase a restored vessel previously used by the U.S. Navy.
Sacramento County Supervisor Pat Hume was elected the Conservancy’s Board chair for 2024-2025 and will replace outgoing Chair Solano County Supervisor Mitch Mashburn. Board Member Leo Winternitz will continue to serve as the Conservancy Board’s vice chair.
“On behalf of the Delta Conservancy, I want to welcome Sacramento County Supervisor Pat Hume as our new Board chair. We look forward to the continued progress and positive impact he will bring to the Delta,” said Delta Conservancy Executive Officer Campbell Ingram. “Additionally, I want to express our gratitude to Solano County Supervisor Mitch Mashburn for his dedicated service and contributions to the Board.”
The Board unanimously approved $950,000 from the Proposition 68 Community and Economic Enhancement Grant Program for the Stockton Maritime Museum Planning Project.
With the grant award, the Stockton Historical Maritime Museum will implement preconstruction planning activities for creation of the museum in the city’s historic downtown waterfront. Currently, Stockton doesn’t have a museum solely dedicated to the city’s maritime history and the role Stockton played in national defense.
Once built, the museum facilities will display the USS Lucid (MSO-458), the last restorable “Aggressive Class” oceangoing minesweeper remaining in the world. A collaborative agreement was established in 2011 with the San Joaquin County Office of Education to join with the museum in transforming the vessel into a floating museum ship. The vessel is currently being restored by museum volunteers, including active, wounded, and retired veterans, as well as by students from the Discovery ChalleNGe Academy, a high school credit recovery program.
Three additional structures replicating old shipyard buildings will complete the museum.
“Museum ships are a tremendous draw whenever they are located in a highly visible and easily accessed location in cities around the country. Our museum tells of the historic importance and achievements of Stockton’s rich maritime past — from the development of the rich Delta agricultural area, the Navy’s long presence at Rough and Ready Supply Depot, to the dozen local shipyards that employed thousands of local citizens building ships for both commerce and our military,” said Stockton Maritime Museum President David Rajkovich. “This award paves the way for our museum to eventually open the USS Lucid as a permanently moored museum ship on Stockton’s historic waterfront.”
The museum has approximately $3 million in legacy gifts committed to the project’s implementation. Local support for the project is evident through letters from local and regional community organizations, including the U.S. Navy, Downtown Stockton Alliance, San Joaquin Community Foundation, San Joaquin Office of Education, and Visit Stockton.
During Wednesday’s meeting, Board members also received program updates and heard a presentation on the newly released Delta Drought Response Pilot Program report for Water Year 2023.
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