Nautical Museum hires new director

Greg Risling

NEWPORT BEACH -- After asking its former executive director to step

down from her position in July, the Newport Harbor Nautical Museum has

found a replacement.

G. Wayne Eggleston, who created a successful heritage museum in San

Clemente, will now handle the day-to-day operations at the nautical

museum. Eggleston, 54, lives in San Clemente, where he also sits on the

City Council.

“We are very pleased to have him on board,” said Dave Grant, president of

the nonprofit museum’s board of directors. “At this point in the museum’s

life, he’s a very good fit.”

Eggleston was heralded for the inception of the Heritage of San Clemente

Foundation, a museum dedicated to the city’s history. Started two years

ago, the foundation has 500 members and has incorporated a visitor

center, art gallery and a tribute to the U.S. Marine Corps in the museum.

Those who worked closely with Eggleston said the Newport Beach museum is

fortunate to land the community-oriented councilman.

“The nautical museum is very lucky to find him,” said Bill Koelzer, who

is president of the San Clemente foundation. “I suspect he will do the

same there as he did here.”

Eggleston replaces Shelli Smith, who left over the summer. Smith was

instrumental in bringing H.M. Bark Endeavour, a replica of Captain James

Cook’s tall ship, to Newport Beach. The weeklong Endeavour exhibit

attracted more than 15,000 visitors.

Despite the success of the Endeavour, Smith was asked to step down. The

museum’s board of directors and Smith agreed not to disclose reasons

behind the move.

The new director will have a plateful of issues to resolve in his tenure.

Most importantly, the future of the museum remains uncertain. The museum

occupies the wooden boat Rubin E. Lee and its lease expires in 2006. In

the interim, the board of directors must decide whether to keep the

museum in port or try to find another location.

“We are limited in space on the boat,” Grant said. “It’s hard for us to

have permanent collections. But there is a possibility to add on to the

museum with a land-based site.”

Eggleston said he is looking forward to his new job and has already met

many of those involved with the museum.

“I hope to help enrich the exhibits and create revenue-producing

enterprises,” he said. “We want to make it the best possible museum.”