Santa Cruz Surfing Museum facts for kids
{{Infobox museum |name = Santa Cruz Surfing Museum |image =IMG 9846Santa Cruz Lighthouse.jpg |imagesize = 250 |map_type = |established = 1986 |location = Santa Cruz, California |type = History |visitors = 70,000 visits annually |director = Jenifer Lienau-Thompson |curator = |publictransit= |website = |embedded =
| Location | Santa Cruz California United States |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 36°57′05.34″N 122°01′36.36″W / 36.9514833°N 122.0267667°W |
| Year first constructed | 1869 (first) |
| Year first lit | 1967 (current) |
| Automated | 1941 |
| Construction | brick tower |
| Tower shape | square tower with balcony and lantern |
| Markings / pattern | unpainted tower, white lantern |
| Height | 39 feet (12 m) |
| Focal height | 60 feet (18 m) |
| Original lens | Fifth order Fresnel lens (removed) |
| Range | 12 nautical miles (22 km; 14 mi) |
| Characteristic | Fl W 5s. |
} The Santa Cruz Surfing Museum is a cool place that opened in May 1986. It's all about the history of surfing! This museum shows how surfing started and grew in Santa Cruz, California. It even has items from the very first days of surfing in the United States.
Where to Find the Museum
The Santa Cruz Surfing Museum is located inside the Mark Abbott Memorial Lighthouse. You can find it at Lighthouse Point on West Cliff Drive. When it opened in June 1986, it was the first surfing museum in the whole world!
The lighthouse itself was built in 1967. It was created to remember a surfer named Mark Abbott. He sadly passed away while surfing at a nearby spot called Pleasure Point.
This small museum looks out over Steamer Lane, a very popular surfing spot. Inside, you'll see photos, surfboards, and videos. They tell the story of over 100 years of surfing history in Santa Cruz. After some money cuts in 2009, the Santa Cruz Surfing Club Preservation Society and private donations helped keep the museum open.
Awesome Surfing Exhibits
The museum's exhibits show more than a century of surfing in Santa Cruz. Surfing first came to Santa Cruz in 1885. Three Hawaiian princes surfed the mouth of the San Lorenzo River on special plank boards. Since then, surfing has become a huge part of the Santa Cruz community.
In April 2010, a special plaque was put up to honor these princes. Their names were David Kawānanakoa, Edward Abnel Keliʻiahonui, and Jonah Kūhiō Kalanianaʻole. Jonah later became a delegate to the US Congress.
Through the years, surf culture has changed with popular trends. Photos show how surfing culture grew in Santa Cruz. In the 1930s and 1940s, it was about calm summers at the beach. The 1950s brought fun beach parties. The 1960s had surf rock music. The 1970s focused on "soul surfing." The 1980s were all about bright neon colors. Then, the 1990s saw the return of classic long-board riding.
You can also see different types of surfboards from each time period. There are huge hollow paddle boards and redwood planks from the 1930s and 1940s. You'll also find early foam and fiberglass boards. Plus, there are speedy short boards used for new surf moves starting in the 1970s.
The Santa Cruz Lighthouse
The museum is located inside the current Santa Cruz Light. This lighthouse marks Point Santa Cruz. It helps guide ships on the west side of Santa Cruz Anchorage.
The first lighthouse here was funded by Congress in 1850. This was just 19 days after California became a state! But building it took a while because of land ownership arguments. Construction finally began in 1868. The original lighthouse was a two-story wooden building. It had a lantern with a special Fresnel lens inside.
Over time, the land at Point Santa Cruz started to wear away. So, in 1879, the lighthouse had to be moved back about 300 feet (91 meters). Around 1909 (some say 1913), the lens was changed to a bigger one. This made the light easier to see against the city lights. The light became electric in 1917. In 1941, it was replaced by a wooden tower. The original building was taken down in 1948.
See also
- List of lighthouses in the United States
