Established in 2000, the Houston Maritime Center & Museum (HMC&M) is an extension of founder James “Jim” L. Manzolillo’s unique experiences, personality, and lifelong association with the ocean. As a naval architect, Manzolillo traveled extensively, collecting artifacts from around the world. He eventually decided to share them with the public, and Houston offered a logical place to do that. Hence, Manzolillo began channeling his resources to create a museum to engage people of all ages in the history of ships and sea exploration.

A 501(c)3 non-profit organization, HMC&M seeks to connect the community to one of Houston’s most valuable industries, offering a wide variety of exhibits that cover centuries of maritime history and the city’s impact on the maritime world. The Center also hosts a vast variety of virtual and in-person educational activities, modules, lectures, programs and events for all ages.