Cocoa Beach Surf Museum: where are Kelly Slater's boards?

The act of riding waves is three thousand years old. The history of surfing is full of stories, documents, surfboards, photographs, videos, and ancient crafts. Let's open the door to the best surfing museums in the world.

The world has nearly twenty surfing museums open to the general public.

From the mainland USA and Hawaii to Australia and Europe, surfers' heritage is secured and protected against the power of time in lovingly built museums.

Surfing museums are usually set up by local councils, regional governments, mayors, and surf historians; as nonprofit organizations.

Ticket fees and private donations usually fund their endeavors.

California

Santa Cruz Surfing Museum: the oldest surfing museum in the world

Architect Stuart Resor established the California Surf Museum in 1986. The space can be visited in Oceanside.

It works to actively preserve surfing heritage by collecting antique artifacts, trophies, boards, magazines, and exhibitions.

The Huntington Beach International Surfing Museum was founded in 1988 by Natalie Kotsch. Gawk at the bust of Duke Kahanamoku.

Or check out the paddleboard designed in 1935 by surfing innovator Tom Blake.

The Santa Cruz Surfing Museum opened its doors in 1986. Located in the Mark Abbott Memorial Lighthouse, the space has a breathtaking view over Steamer Lane.

It is one of the oldest surfing museums in the world. Get ready for incredible surf memorabilia.

The Santa Barbara Surf Museum was established in 1992.

This Californian space displays unique surfboards by Swastika, Pacific Systems, Phil Edwards, George Greenough, Greg Noll, and Velzy Jacobs.

You can also discover unusual skateboards, musical instruments, and vintage surf clothing.

The Surfing Heritage & Culture Center is located in San Clemente.

This museum aims to preserve, present, and promote surfing's heritage for the appreciation and education of current and future generations.

They claim to display the world's largest collection of historic surf images and surfboards.

 

US East Coast

Texas Surf Museum: surfer cowboys inside

The New Jersey Surf Museum was founded in 2010 and covers the origins of surfing in the region as far back as 1912.

The museum also explores the close connection of surfing to the environment and looks at the science of waves.

There is a large collection of surfboards, along with memorabilia, surf art, and a Surf Simulator.

The Florida Surf Museum was established in 1999. It engages the community in surfing culture with exhibits and educational events, as well as community outreach programs for all ages.

The space preserves and documents the unique history and culture of East Coast surfing.

The Texas Surf Museum opened in 2005 in Corpus Christi.

Although Texas is not usually known for its surfing roots, the space showcases hundreds of classic boards, replicas, surf shaping tools, and surf movies.

 

Hawaii

The Honolulu Surf Museum was founded by James O'Mahoney and Jimmy Buffett.

Get in touch with the gold ring worn by Captain James Cook during his exploration of Hawaii aboard the HMS Resolution, and see the original surfboard featured in "Apocalypse Now."

Check out iconic paintings, and look at some original surf movie posters.

The North Shore Surf and Cultural Museum was founded in the 1990s by Mark Fragale and John Moore.

The space showcases a collection of antique surfboards, including the first motorized surfboard, the first snowboard, and old, hollow wooden boards.

 

Europe

Peter Robinson established the Museum of British Surfing in 2012.

Europe's only surf museum has what's believed to be the largest and most comprehensive public collection on the Old Continent.

Here you will find vintage surfboards, documentaries, rare photos, old surf books, and art.

The Nazaré Surfer Wall is a tribute to the big wave surfers who take on the massive waves at Praia do Norte in Nazaré, Portugal.

It's basically an exhibit located inside the Forte de S. Miguel Arcanjo, also known as the Nazaré Lighthouse.

It displays surfboards and other artifacts donated by surfers who have braved the giant liquid mountains of Praia do Norte. It's a way to recognize the skill and courage of these swell hunters.

The wall is part of a larger museum project within the fort.

 

Australia

The Surf World Museum was founded in 1993 by Peter Troy, Vic Tantau, and Alan Reid.

Located in Torquay, Australia, it's the world's largest surf and beach culture museum and is home to the Australian Surfing Hall of Fame.

The Surf World Gold Coast was founded in the mid-1990s by Daryl Barnet.

This surf museum, located in Currumbin, Australia, houses fascinating exhibits and extensive displays of surfing memorabilia, including surfboards, artwork, movie posters, and historical photos.

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