The Texas Surf Museum in Galveston is celebrating its growing influence with a new exhibit honoring Texas women surfers and a first-ever gala attended by legends from California’s surf scene.
The Texas Surf Museum in Galveston, having opened its doors for less than a year, has made a significant impression both within the state and across the nation, extending its influence to California, a longstanding hub of U.S. surfing culture.
The museum launched its inaugural Fall Gala on Saturday, highlighting “Texas Women, Texas Waves,” a new exhibit showcasing the achievements of Texas women surfers from the 1970s to the present. The event showcased a growing partnership between the surf communities of Texas and California, a relationship that museum manager Eduardo Hernandez referred to as “a dream eight months in the making.”
“Gradually, we focused on establishing our presence in that area instead of trying to overpower anything,” Hernandez said. “We are excited to announce the establishment of our new hub right here in Texas, and that’s us.”
Since its inception, the museum has attracted thousands of visitors keen to discuss the rich history of surfing along the Gulf Coast. Hernandez highlighted the significant increase in the museum's social media engagement, while noting that visitor reviews on Google and TripAdvisor remained outstanding. He credited a substantial portion of that achievement to the involvement of experienced Texas surfers—now in their 50s and 60s—serving as part-time guides.
“They’d take visitors on quite a journey discussing the significance of this board and everything related,” Hernandez said with a chuckle. “However, it left the visitor with a sense of acquiring a deep insight into a rather niche subject.”
Several prominent individuals from California’s surf scene made their way to Galveston for the gala, including Jim Kempton, the executive director of the California Surf Museum, along with surfing hall of famers Jericho Poppler and Shannon Aikman.
The initiative was spearheaded by Karen Mackay, a member of the museum board with roots in Houston and a distinguished background as the 1977 national surfing champion, bringing years of experience from Malibu’s vibrant surf community. Mackay, a founding board member of the Women’s International Surfing Association and former president of the Surfrider Foundation, significantly contributed to curating exhibits and building connections with California surf leaders upon her return to Texas.
Kempton played a key role in launching the Texas Surf Museum's online store, having previously served as editor-in-chief of Surfer magazine and as media director for Billabong USA. He also took the time to sign copies of his books, Women on Waves and First We Surf, Then We Eat, at the event.
The gala celebrated the achievements of Texan surfing champions Aarin Hartwell, Tippi Kelley, Rita Parrish, and Grace Clark Knowles. Attendees were invited to leave their mark on a uniquely designed board created in Corpus Christi, representing the museum's first year and its expanding ties across the nation.
“Forming that collaboration gave us an important understanding of what is effective,” Hernandez stated. “From infrastructure to content, we discovered the essential elements for building something lasting.”
