The Sea Center focuses on the marine life and the related conservation of the Santa Barbara Channel.

Among the highlights of the original museum, and which still exist today, are a life-size model of a gray whale and her calf, aquaria, and static exhibits about marine life and ocean ecology.

[2] After many successful years, an opportunity became available to expand, adding building space, larger touch tanks, and new exhibits.

The expanded building's major donor at that time was businessman Ty Warner, also a local resident.

[1] Following a rebranding of the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History in 2016, the Sea Center returned to its original name.