Rum Running, Sailors & Prohibition

The Santa Barbara Maritime Museum also just opened its newest exhibit “Rum Running, Sailors & Prohibition” which covers more than 400 years of history and connects Santa Barbara to those times. Why Santa Barbara? Because we have more coastline than any other county in the United States including the Channel Islands. A perfect place to deliver illegal booze during prohibition.

There was a VIP reception for the exhibit, which was sponsored by American Riviera Bank and had what else, but rum tasting. With us was Bailey Pryor, who is founder and CEO of The Real McCoy Rum. The name comes from a pioneer rumrunner Bill McCoy. In 1920 he was first to fill his boat with rum in the Caribbean, sail up the East Coast and act as a floating liquor store – legally – as he stayed three miles offshore in international waters. He also lived by his own code of honor and never adulterated his product, as did other rumrunners. Hence the name “The Real McCoy.”

Bailey is a documentary filmmaker, has won five Emmys, and been nominated for many more. He gave the audience a most amusing and factual talk on the 13 years of Prohibition. People never stopped drinking and the Feds could never keep up. There weren’t enough of them and their boats and cars were inferior.

Erin Graffy with her historical background contributed greatly to the exhibit saying, “The bad guys outnumbered the good.” Beaches that made for good drop spots were Rincon, Carpinteria, Hendry’s, Hope Ranch, Ellwood, and Loon Point. Next time you go to the beach, envision a rum drop instead of a beach umbrella.

You have six months to view this fascinating walk back in time.