Santa Cruz Surfing Museum

Santa Cruz Surfing Museum is located at Mark Abbott Memorial Lighthouse. This Santa Cruz, California historical building examines 100 years of history relating to Santa Cruz and surfing. Visitors will find spectacular sites of Santa Cruz and Monterey Bay at the museum. There is also a chance to overlook Steamer Lane, which is known internationally.

Displays at the museum include surf boards made of redwood and more modern creations. Early wetsuits, photographs of surfers, and video are part of the exhibit. Many of the displays range from the 1930s to present day, depicting the changes of surf styles, clothing, posters, and more. The gift shop has books, T shirts, posters, sweatshirts and other memorabilia for visitors to take home with them.

Santa Cruz Surfing Museum is open Thursday through Monday 12pm to 4pm. Summer hours are 10am to 5pm Wednesday thru Monday. Admission is free; however, donations are accepted to help keep the museum open.

Surfing was introduced into Santa Cruz culture as far back as 1886, when three Hawaiian Princes spent a month surfing the San Lorenzo River with plank boards. Each decade has seen a change for surfing mentality and culture via boards and clothing.