San Diego Maritime Museum Curator Honored

The Maritime Alliance Foundation has decided to award a 'Lifetime Achievement for Innovation Award' to Dr. Ray Ashley of the Maritime Museum of San Diego. The Maritime Alliance informs as follows:

Ray Ashley is not just an historian, nor would it be accurate to say he just runs a museum, for his interesting interpretations of history have been drawing crowds to the Maritime Museum for the nearly 20 years he has been at the helm.

The work that Ray and the Maritime Museum have done is of enormous importance to our region and its citizens.  "The Maritime Museum of San Diego is the 'heart and soul' of the maritime industry in San Diego because it is the embodiment of maritime technological achievements over the most recent hundreds of years on the West Coast," says TMA President Michael Jones, "but beyond that it bridges us to a much longer and richer history of thousands of years of maritime history for mankind."

With an MA in Maritime History and a PhD in History from Duke University, specializing in the history of science, technology and medicine, Ray shares an amazingly informed historical perspective with fellow San Diegans and visitors alike. His skills as a story teller are unmatched, and the "Origin Story" he fondly tells to help us to understand provides the context for our current strengths in the region and is key to developing a Maritime Vision for the future.  

In acknowledging this year's award choice, Michael concluded, "Your zest for life, breadth of knowledge, ability to help us understand, your creativity, your outreach and constant support of others, and your can-do attitude (let's build the San Salvador!) inspire us to 'be all that we can be.'