Galveston's new Texas Surf Museum celebrates the state's unique surfing history. It features vintage boards, surfer lore, and the story of lifeguard hero LeRoy Colombo.
As of March 7, 2025, the Texas Surf Museum opened at 2110 Mechanic Street, just a few steps from the Strand. It is a new cultural gem that captures the spirit of a subculture along the Gulf Coast.
The museum tells the story of surfing's long history in Texas. Surfing was once considered impossible in the Gulf of Mexico, but it has a rich past along the state's sandy shores.
American teens, many from small places that couldn't get to the beach, were inspired by the 1960s surf craze in California to want to catch waves and find freedom on the beach. Texas quickly became the best place for spring breaks and fun in the sun at the beach.
Even though the waves in the Gulf didn't have as much power as those in California, they were great for newbies, and surf towns sprang up in Galveston, Corpus Christi, and South Padre Island.
The museum has old surfboards, old photos, and surf memorabilia on display, giving guests a deep look into how the sport has changed nationally and locally. Interesting plaques show how the surfboard has changed over time and talk about early surfers on the Texas coast. They also talk about how surfing became more than just a sport and a way of life.
LeRoy Colombo was a famous deaf lifeguard from Galveston who saved 907 lives from 1923 to 1967. His story stands out. The Galveston Island Beach Patrol found Colombo's original surfboard in a county warehouse and gave it to the museum. It is thought to be the oldest surfboard in Texas.
This museum gives people who used to surf or are just interested in coastal Texas culture a nostalgic and educational look into a time when sun, sand, and surf changed generations.
The Texas Surf Museum is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Thursday through Sunday. Admission is $10, but seniors, children, and military personnel can get in for less.
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