The International Surfing Museum may be getting a larger homes
by: Jerry Person
Published: July 7, 2025
HUNTINGTON BEACH...The City is looking into creating an area of Main Street dedicated to the arts and history in the 500 block that would include the Art Center (538 Main), the Main Street branch library (525 Main) and possibly merge the International Surfing Museum into the Huntington Beach Public Library system.
City staff is presently looking into the feasibility of relocating the popular surf museum to larger quarters after City Council voted 7-0 to evalute such a move.
Presently the museum is running out of space to store and exhibit relating to the history of surfing in Huntington Beach at their present location at 411 Olive.
The museum's present location on Olive Ave. has had a rich history over the years all its own.
In the early 1930s Dr. Ralph E. Hawes had this building built for his medical clinic and officially moved into his medical clinic on Halloween night in 1935. He treated many of our resident's illnesses and delivered then into this world. There were many oil workers has Dr. Hawes to thank for saving their lives as oil accidents were common and many workers received major injuries.
In 1942, Hawes was elected to the city council and served on it until 1948 and during 1944, Hawes served as chairman of the local committee of the Salvation Army's War Time Maintenance Appeal.
In 1962, the city chose him as "Man of the Year."
The Huntington Beach City School District in 1974 named an elementary school at 9682 Yellowstone Drive for him.
Another doctor also occupied that location in the 1960s and 70s. and that was Dr. Werdna Burns.
But by the 1980s saw three restaurants occupying this location, they were:
Pacific Surf Restaurant in 1981, but for some reason never opened.
Charlie's Chili served their famous food there in 1983, closing its doors in 1984.
Safari Sam's April 1986
Then in 1984 Sam Lanni opened Safari Sam's that many longtime residents still remember.
In 1987 Ann Beasley and Natalie Kotsch opened in a small building right behind the Security Pacific Bank in the 300 block of Walnut Ave. the first location of the Huntington Beach Surfing Museum and where a certain famous Dick Dale guitar was stolen and later recovered.
International Surfing Museum 1993
In June 1990 the International Surfing Museum held their official grand opening at their new location at 411 Olive Ave.
People forget that buildings are more then brick and mortar, but peoples dreams, hopes, and sometimes failures, but they are all part of Huntington Beach's rich histroy.
Photos:Jerry Person