The Surfing Heritage and Culture Center (SHACC) in San Clemente is where legends gather. They have a vast collection of boards that start from the inception of the sport. Stroll on by for a docent led tour at 110 Calle Iglesia, San Clemente, CA 92672. Call ahead at (949) 388-0313 to schedule your museum tour and education program, which include ukulele lessons to Scout Troop programs.
Hawaiian native Duke Kahanamoku is honored for his numerous contributions to surfing.
Current Exhibition
Surf Travel: From Twain to Tavarua
January- March 2025
From Mark Twain’s first attempt at surfing in 1866 to the modern surf travel industry, the history of surf exploration is as captivating as the waves themselves. Trailblazers like Jack London, Tom Blake, and Duke Kahanamoku paved the way, inspiring generations of surfers to chase waves around the globe.
Discover the evolution of surf travel—from rough, unpaved roads to luxurious surf resorts—and celebrate the adventurous spirit that defines surfing culture.
As Randy Rarick says, “The adventure makes being a surfer, like nothing else on Earth. It’s out there, just go chase it!”
Past Exhibition
Origins of Surfing
Inspired by the book The Illustrated Atlas of Surfing History (published by Island Heritage, written by Joel T. Smith and illustrated by Ron Croci), SHACC’s exhibit depicts the history of surfing from antiquity to the 18th Century European discovery of Hawaii. The exhibit ended on April 21, 2019. The exhibit traveled to the International Surfing Museum in Huntington Beach in May 2019.