I have Taken you to the Port Aransas Museum before, but last night there was the opening of a special display. The display commemorates Port Aransas area surfing.
This first shot is of a painting which was used as the program cover. It is the old Danceland where surfers used to meet to party. The building was torn down in the late sixties.
The exhibit had some informational stations like the one below. This tells of Women surfing pioneers.
The Caldwell Pier in Port Aransas is still a favorite surfing location. This shot is from the mid-sixties.
The next photo is a display telling of surfers riding the swells of a hurricane.
The event had its share of old surfers, and l you had to do was add a barley pop to begin a lively discussion.
Of course, there was a board rental place called The Surf Shack. Those long boards from the sixties are quite impressive.
This display points out the origin of surfing in Port Aransas in the early sixties.
A photo of a Surf Shop in the mid-sixties and a cherry 1966 Mercedes 300 sedan.
Here is a photo of the Magic Bus.
An actual surfboard.
I left this photo in so you could see how the exhibits were presented. (I also thought that guy in the pink shirt and the Corona was really the epitome of a surfer dude.)
A shot of the barmaids at work.
So you have an idea of the venue here is an outside shot of the museum building. I liked the flag flying as well.
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This was a fun travelogue. The photo of the old surfers brought a smile, as did the kid standing on his head….:) Love the mix of photos and story…
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I also liked the little tyke with surfer hair. Thanks, Gwen.
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Very cool. I’ve always wondered how surfing came to be. Seems odd to ride a plank of wood in the water, but I assume it had a non-sport/leisure use first.
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I think the root is back in Hawaii where the boards were a way for fishermen to get out further from the beach. (If not it sounds good.)
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Makes sense to me. Hunting and travel tend to be high on the source list.
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Yup. 😀
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Great pictures, John. Seems a lot of older surfers turned out for the program. 🙂 — Suzanne
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They were the ones in the photos taken in the 1960’s. Old surfers never die, they just lose their wave. 🙂
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That is really cool. Port Aransas seems like a great place to live. Hopefully I’ll get there someday. I always love your views of the neighborhood.
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Thank you, Phil. It is an interesting place for sure.
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Wonderful event, dear John! Thank you for sharing! Very sunny people these surfers are! 🙂
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They are sunny. (I wonder their secret). Thanks., Maria. 😀
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Reblogged this on Die Erste Eslarner Zeitung – Aus und über Eslarn, sowie die bayerisch-tschechische Region!.
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Thank you for the reblog, Michael.
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Always with a great pleasure. Thank you for the always useful information. Have a nice week ahead! 😉 Michael
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You as well.
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This was really interesting, John. I love all of the old photographs. Many reminded me of the old Gidget movies my sister and I used to watch. 🙂 Surfs up!
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Yes they do, Jill. Thanks. 😀
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Terrific job, John! You are blessed to live in a very interesting community that cares about preserving many aspects of its heritage. Like Gwen, I found the picture of the guy standing on his head to be quite endearing. Bravo, good sir!
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Crazy kids. They are now grandparents and can no longer stand on their heads.
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I thought of that too! Too funny!
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🙂
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Reminds me of Tom Wolfe’s great collection of essays and storie, The Pump House Gang
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Loved Tom Wolfe. I guess it is a little like that.
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You always have such fun things going on in your neck of the woods, John.
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Don’t I? Of course sometimes I have to hunt them down.
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I love these snapshots of your neighborhood! While I’ve never surfed — and have NO desire to do so — it ideally represents a lifestyle of bygone years. Where would The Beach Boys have been without surfer dudes and gals?!?
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Good morning, John,
I love that Magic Bus. I wish I had it to tour the US in. Hm, looks like this picture woke up the Hippy in me that I haven’t known to be inside me so far. 😉
Enjoy your Sunday,
Pit
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I could see you as a hippie. “Don’t Bogart that joint son.”
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Ooops, I think it sholud have been “Hippie”.
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🙂
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Surfing fun! When I was a young girl I used to sit on the floor in front of the TV, glued to old Gidget movies. Gidget was my (s)hero — yet I never learned to swim… Anyway, I enjoyed the fact that the museum included a bit for women surfers. This was an unexpected delight, John. Mega hugs.
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Thank you, Teagan. I’m glad you enjoyed it.
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A great look at the museum!
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Thank you, Jan
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A lot of history there – thanks for sharing. Well done!
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Thank you, Jo.
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Great post, John. There’s a lot of history in the memorabilia. All that was missing was some Beach Boys playing in the background.
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I should have put up a Beach Boys video. Darn. Didn’t think of it.
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What a cool venue for a cold drink, John. Old surfers tell the best stories.
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At least the surfers think so. There was a women there who asked me if I was a surfer. I told her no and she gave me a high five and said,”I just love surfer dudes.” I guess she missed the no part.
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LOL…just keep drinking, Lady. 🙂
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I like the look at a bit of local history. I’ve seen more modern images of people surfing hurricane swells. Seems a bit crazy to me.
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It’s always nice when historic preservation is made accessible like this. You did a great job of bringing it to life, John. Very cool.
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Thank you, Pilgrim. Made for a late press deadline.
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Really neat history, and you documented it so well!
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Thank you, Deborah. 😀
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