ABOUT US

          Morgan's Cove was a true labor of love for Captain Rich Firato.

 

     What began 25 years ago as a creative vision for transforming an overgrown acre of land evolved into a vibrant and imaginative pirate-themed island. After dedicating countless hours, imagination and effort to building Morgan’s Cove, Rich chose to share his paradise by opening it up to nonprofit organizations and school-aged children, allowing them to experience and enjoy its magic.



     The Morgan’s Cove Foundation was established and co-founded with his wife, Julie Firato, to provide "Education through Adventure" to local school children - a vision born from Rich's passion for creating an outdoor classroom where students could learn through hands on, immersive experiences.  His goal was to make history, nature and imagination come alive in a way that traditional classrooms could not. 

     Morgan’s Cove features a meticulously crafted 1/3-scale replica of Spanish galleon, a compelling Native American exhibit that also highlights the early settlers of Morgan Hill, and some of the largest poppy jasper specimens in the region—not to mention a museum filled with fascinating treasures and artifacts from the 1715 Spanish Treasure Fleet, a historic maritime event that helped shape the course of world history.

     Tragically, Rich passed away in 2024, just months after bringing the nonprofit to life. His trusted First Mate, Kevin Fernandes—who spent the past decade working alongside Rich and was instrumental in realizing his vision—has now stepped forward to carry the torch as the new Captain of Morgan’s Cove. Kevin Fernandes along with Julie Firato have picked up where Rich left off and are bringing the nonprofit to life and will continue to share the magic that Rich left behind.

“Morgan’s Cove is never truly finished—just like us, it grows, learns, and
becomes something better with every adventure.”