INTERNATIONAL SURF Museum has a collection of historic boards (ISM photo).

The International Surfing Museum will relocate to the Main Street Library, the Huntington Beach City Council decided on Tuesday night.

On a 6-0 vote (with Councilmember Pat Burns absent), the council approved and authorized the execution of an agreement to allow the museum to relocate. The museum features the history and heritage of the sport which gave the community its nickname of “Surf City.”

The museum is now located at 411 Olive Ave. in the downtown area. The Main Street library is at 525 Main St.

Approval of the agreement didn’t come without dissent. Several speakers told the council of their objections, including
comments that the agreement was a “sweetheart deal” or that it would reduce the services available to the public at the library, which was the “main” library for the city for decades until the opening of the Central Library at Goldenwest Street and Talbert Avenue.

The surfing museum was established at its present location in 1987, and is dedicated to Duke Kahanamoku, who is generally considered to be the key figure in popularizing the modern sport once called “surfboard riding.”