The historic Western Flyer, chartered by John Steinbeck and Ed Ricketts in 1940, now serves as a working research vessel and floating classroom, sparking curiosity through the intersection of marine science and the arts.

Netflix’s East of Eden: From the Salinas Valley to the Western Flyer

September 28, 2026

Netflix’s new East of Eden brings John Steinbeck’s Salinas Valley to a new generation. Follow the story to Monterey, Ed Ricketts and the Western Flyer.

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Steinbeck, Walter Munk and Another Voyage of Discovery

September 28, 2026

A visit aboard the Western Flyer revealed a surprising connection between John Steinbeck, legendary oceanographer Walter Munk, and one of the most ambitious scientific expeditions of the 20th century.

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Help Shape the Future of the Western Flyer Foundation

September 14, 2026

Help shape the future of the Western Flyer Foundation! Take our three-minute community survey and share what you value most about our work and what you would like to see in the years ahead.

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A Special Message from the Western Flyer Foundation

August 27, 2026

The Western Flyer Foundation is launching a one-time $1 million stabilization campaign to protect the progress we have made and put the Foundation on stronger financial footing. Thanks to a generous $250,000 matching challenge, every gift made now will be doubled.

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Join the Crew: Western Flyer Foundation Membership Is Here

August 27, 2026

Your support has always made you part of the Western Flyer community. Now, our new membership program offers even more ways to connect with the vessel, its work, and the people who make it all possible.

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Bringing Western Flyer Data to Life

August 25, 2026

A team at the Naval Postgraduate School has developed a new interactive platform using environmental data from the Western Flyer. Called VIGOR, the platform allows users to retrace past expeditions and follow the vessel’s location and environmental observations live from Monterey Bay.

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