SURF PATROL

South Florida’s century-long surfing heritage is in good hands thanks to one man’s passion for preserving its legacy and memorabilia, which is on display at the Cornell Museum in Delray Beach through July 2023. A portion of the collection will also be on display at the newly renovated Lantana Public Library, which is expected in February 2023. The exhibits feature dozens of vintage surfboards and museum-grade storyboard panels displaying priceless memorabilia.

“Delray Beach and the neighboring coastal towns from Jupiter to Boca have some of the richest surfing histories,”says Tom Warnke, executive director of the Surfing Florida Museum who—along with its 14-member board of trustees—is committed to preserving the history and future of East Coast surfing.

“It was a revelation when I began surfing in 1956 when I was 8 and rode my first waves on an inflatable mat. Delray had a good surfing spot at the end of Atlantic Avenue,” says Warnke. As modern surfing exploded in popularity during the 1960s, both its evolution and place in pop culture were on the rise, especially in coastal towns like Delray Beach, which was a mecca for an entire generation.

The turnkey collection of priceless memorabilia and professional-grade exhibits depicts over a century of surfing history along Florida’s eastern seaboard, with everything from vintage surfboards, photographs and surfing club jackets to more than 80 museum-grade storyboards.

Highlights include a 1947 surfboard made by Bob Simmons, who is considered the father of modern surfboard design.

Made of solid balsa wood, the double fin board stands 10 feet, 6 inches tall, weighs 70 pounds and is valued at $30,000. It also features one of the first Hobie surfboards ever made, valued at $7,000; a Holmesy Sidewinder surfboard valued at $5,000; and some of the very first Nomad and Fox surfboards that were manufactured in Lantana.

The exhibit is a huge milestone for a world-class collection that has lived a largely nomadic and, at times, closeted existence. Finding a permanent home has been more elusive than finding that perfect wave.

“We’ve moved from place to place for years and are thrilled to have a committed partner to host part of our exhibit,” says Warnke, who remains hopeful that a more permanent home for the entire collection can be found.