Photo: Visit Huntington Beach
The Huntington Beach International Surfing Museum is going to the library. As the LA Times reports, the Huntington Beach City Council has officially approved moving the museum out of its home of 35 years and into the Main Street Branch Library,.
The move has been in the works since last summer, when the city council directed staff to evaluate the feasibility of relocating the surfing museum into the library. That was followed by a study session about the proposal in December. On Tuesday night, the Huntington Beach City Council unanimously approved the move.
“The Huntington Beach International Surfing Museum has long been an integral part of the Huntington Beach community, showcasing the rich history of surfing — from pioneers like George Freeth and Duke Kahanamoku to the modern-day surf heroes and the next generation of rising stars,” John Urdi, president and chief executive of Visit Huntington Beach said in a statement. “This approved move provides the museum with an opportunity to settle into a space that can welcome even more visitors to experience the sport and its culture from a fresh perspective. The new location will allow the HBISM to continue inspiring guests of all ages while giving the museum an exciting opportunity to shine in its next chapter.”
The deal would allow the museum to occupy the library for only $500 a month, giving them 1,200 square feet of dedicated space, along with 3,600 square feet of space that would be shared with the library.
Though the move has been billed by council members as an opportunity to support the library by using the museum to drive traffic, it was met with opposition from some community members. Some accused the low rent to be a “sweetheart deal” and argued that space dedicated to the museum would reduce the availability of other library resources to the public.
“We can’t on the one hand say that we want to provide free services for residents, and on the other hand say, we’re not jamming them enough, we’re not charging them enough,” responded Councilman Andrew Gruel. “You can’t have it both ways when you make that argument.
“This is a temporary opportunity to drive more traffic into the library and collaborate with the surf museum, and we are ‘Surf City, USA.’ It’s that simple. We’re decreasing costs by sharing resources as well.”
The local government has had a rocky relationship with the institution in the past. In 2023, the City Council moved to restrict access to children’s books deemed obscene by the conservative leaders. In response, the American Civil Liberties Union joined a lawsuit filed by residents, ending in a judge ordering the removal of the section.
