#StirCuriosity
Inspired by the legacy of John Steinbeck and Ed Ricketts, we lead research and education programs aboard the historic Western Flyer, connecting science, story, and community.
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Monterey celebrates 180 years of Old Fisherman’s Wharf
By Joyce Kim, KSBW, October 13, 2025Monterey's Old Fisherman's Wharf celebrated its 180th anniversary with a community gathering that featured historic boats, live music, and a sea-life themed birthday cake.
View Full ArticleBuoys, Boots, and a Sneak Peek
September 25, 2025Earlier this month, the Pebble Beach community welcomed the Western Flyer with open arms (and a perfect view of the boat) as we shared a sneak preview of We Simply Liked It—our latest collaboration with filmmaker Aaron Straight of Soulcraft Allstars. To keep the spirit alive, we’re handing the mic to Aaron himself, whose storytelling says it all.
View Full ArticleWhat the Western Flyer Means to Me
September 25, 2025Cultural guide and historian Trudi Angell adds her voice to our storytelling series with a reflection on the Western Flyer, Steinbeck’s writings, and the living connections she’s built in Baja California.
View Full ArticleWhere Science Meets Story Steinbeck’s Western Flyer sails the Sea of Cortez once again.
By Nancy Steinberg, Oregon Stater, August 26, 2025Jack Barth, professor of oceanography in Oregon State University’s College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences, has been on a lot of ships in his time. He has deployed instruments and collected data aboard research vessels throughout the Pacific and Atlantic, with an emphasis on the California Current ecosystem that spans the U.S. West Coast.
View Full ArticleWhat the Western Flyer has meant to me
August 04, 2025Author and researcher Eric Steven Rankin kicks off our new storytelling series with a personal reflection on the Western Flyer—and the web of curiosity, connection, and meaning it continues to inspire.
View Full ArticleBack to El Mogote: Rediscovering a Site Once Visited by Steinbeck and Ricketts
August 04, 2025Eighty-five years after Steinbeck and Ricketts visited El Mogote, the Western Flyer returned—this time with students. In May 2025, high schoolers from La Paz explored the tidal flats of El Mogote as young scientists, uncovering both ecological change and a renewed sense of connection to their local coastline.
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