Santa Barbara Surfing Museum

About Santa Barbara Surfing Museum

Santa Barbara Surfing Museum displays a century of local surfing culture and the innovations that shaped the sport globally. Visitors explore a curated collection of surfboards and memorabilia sourced from the personal collection of Roger Nance, one of the museum's father-and-son founders. The boards and photographs trace how surfing has evolved from its earliest days through the work of shapers and riders who changed the sport from Santa Barbara. The museum occupies space inside Surf N' Wear Beach House, which overlooks the ocean in downtown Santa Barbara. Alongside the museum exhibits, the Beach House offers surfboards, clothing, and handcrafted goods from local creators. Built by Roger and Grayson Nance themselves, the museum functions as both a community space and a personal tribute to the sport's deep roots in the region. A visit suits anyone interested in surfing history, California coastal culture, or how local innovation influences global sports.