Huntington Beach International Surfing Museum is Moving On Up!

 

New Location Has More Stoke to Share

  

           

Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel

SurfWriter Girls Sunny and Patti are excited to hear that the Huntington Beach International Surfing Museum is moving on up - down Main Street to its new location to join the city's library complex. 

 

It will have even more stoke to share than it did when we wrote this milestone story in 2014 about its then new exhibit Century of Stoke:

 

Exhibit Director Dave Reynolds was on his hands and knees at Huntington Beach's International Surfing Museum, carefully laying cut-out footprints on the floor to welcome the museum's guests. 

 

 

 

 

The footprints, arranged in chronological order around the main exhibit area, “each represent a milestone in the history of Huntington Beach and the people who went before,” Reynolds told SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel.

And what a history it’s been – taking the tiny community, once known as Shell Beach before oil and rail car mogul Henry E. Huntington put his name on it, and turning it into the surfing capital of the world.

The 100-year procession of visionaries, entrepreneurs, surfers, board shapers, artists, community leaders, and more who forged HB into the Surf City USA of today is on display in Century of Stoke, curated by Reynolds and surfing’s first professional world champion Peter (PT) Townend.

From the original 1914 cornerstone of the Huntington Beach Pier…

To colorful surfboards used by surfing legends…

A statue of Duke Kahanamoku…

Awards and vintage photos…

 

Paintings and artworks…  

Beach music record album covers…

Movie posters… 

Even a replica of Gordie Duane’s famous surfboard shop…

The milestones are here.

And the memories…especially the memory of Natalie Kotsch, the transplanted Canadian and non-surfer, whose desire to preserve Huntington Beach’s surfing history led to the creation of the International Surfing Museum in 1987.  

  

The spirit of museum founder and muse Natalie, who passed away February 2013, is intensely present in the exuberance of the exhibit itself and within the hearts of those who are carrying on her legacy.

To help the museum reach its new goals, proceeds from Huntington Beach’s 100 Years of Surfing events scheduled this year have been designated to benefit the International Surfing Museum.

    
Tony Soriano, Chairperson of the Surfrider Foundation's Huntington/Seal Beach Chapter, told SurfWriter Girls, “Surfrider is helping to promote the museum’s fund-raising efforts. It shares many of the same educational goals that we have and deserves as much support as the community can give it. The International Surfing Museum is preserving our surf culture and is recognizing the achievements that improve our sport and the beach community.”

  
Looking around at everyone enjoying the Century of Stoke exhibit, SurfWriter Girls Sunny and Patti were definitely “picking up good vibrations.” 

Now that Huntington Beach is celebrating its centennial summer we’re excited to see where the next footprints lead!  

Today in 2026, we know that the footprints are moving on up to the museum's new location at the HB library complex...and a new chapter in its storied history. 

SurfWriter Girls

Surf’n Beach Scene Magazine

 

Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel hold the exclusive rights to this copyrighted material. Publications wishing to reprint it may contact them at surfwriter.girls@gmail.com Individuals and non-profit groups are welcome to post it on social media sites as long as credit is given.