SURF CITY USA UNCOVERED

EVERY CITY HAS ITS SECRETS, THOSE LITTLE-KNOWN GEMS THAT HELP TELL ITS UNIQUE STORY. HUNTINGTON BEACH IS NO DIFFERENT.

Take a few hours to wander the city and learn some of Huntington Beach’s most obscure and interesting history. You might discover that those mysterious spots, the ones you pass by unnoticed, are truly special.

WORLD’S LARGEST SURFBOARD

While not everybody roaming around Huntington Beach can surf, that doesn’t stop visitors from falling in love with the city’s beach vibe, welcoming spirit, and surf culture. Start your discovery at Huntington Beach International Surfing Museum (411 Olive Ave., Huntington Beach, huntingtonbeachsurfingmuseum.org), which was founded several decades ago by the late Natalie Kotsch, a non-surfer from Canada. Located in an iconic art deco building, the non-profit museum is a fantastic place to learn about the history of surfing and participate in the sport’s present—from significant artifacts such as Duke Kahanamoku’s surfboard to the recordbreaking “World’s Largest Surfboard,” which measures 42-feet long, 11-feet wide, 16-inches thick, and a whopping 1,300 pounds!

HUNTINGTON BEACH INTERNATIONAL SURFING MUSEUM FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT JR. ARCHITECTURE

BY JOE KATCHKA

THE WRIGHT STUFF

Sure, we know his father better, but Frank Lloyd Wright Jr. also made quite a name for himself as an architect. Commonly known as Lloyd Wright, he designed many prominent structures in Southern California including the Hollywood Bowl and the Wayfarers Chapel in Palos Verdes. The last thing the younger Wright ever designed (he passed away in 1978) was a shopping center and gas station at Warner Avenue and Springdale Street. Wright’s architecture is still there, featuring interesting Art Deco touches and unique lines and angles; look for a mysterious headstone that tells the story of his tower that wasn’t meant to be. This is truly one of the best-kept secrets in Huntington Beach.

SECRET SILOS…

Stand in the shadows of nearly 100-year-old structures that harken back to the city’s agricultural past at Main Street and Yorktown Avenue. Now a corporate o ice park, you can travel the paved walkway to the middle of the complex and discover original grain silos that were built in the early 1930s. Before o ice workers took over the area, there were sheep and livestock roaming around when the silos were full of grain to feed the animals. After oil was discovered in 1920, there were fewer structures like this left in Surf

1900s EVANGELINE HOTEL

BY JOE KATCHKA

City, but the e orts of preservationists in the 1970s kept these remarkable structures intact. For an Instagrammable opportunity, this place is definitely worth a visit.

… AND A SECRET PARK!

And while you’re there, walk over to the grounds nearby Sunrise Senior Living Facility (7401 Yorktown Ave., Huntington Beach), where you will find a secret staircase leading up to one of the prettiest little-known parks in Huntington Beach. Over 100 years ago, a mansion existed here, owned by wealthy landowner Robert Northam. The magnificent structure was eventually taken over by the Huntington Beach Company, and sadly it burned to the ground in 2000. But when you visit the park today where the house used to sit, you’ll notice the original palm trees and some salvaged bricks used to create an informative kiosk in the middle of the park. Come here to feel the sea breezes and enjoy one of the most private and relaxing areas in town.

SHE STILL STANDS

In the early 1900s, the Evangeline Hotel (421 8th St., Huntington Beach) opened for business. Back then, Civil War veterans would stay here as they staged nearby reunions in Huntington Beach. Over the years, this beautiful 21-room building also served as a youth hostel. Today it’s owned privately but it’s been restored beautifully and seeing it is a great way to experience Huntington Beach’s earliest days.