California Surf Museum in Oceanside

The California Surf Museum, located at 312 Pier View Way in downtown Oceanside near the pier, celebrates the rich history and culture of surfing through compelling exhibits and memorabilia. Founded in 1986 in Encinitas by passionate surfers, the museum eventually settled into its current 5,100 sq ft purpose-built facility in 2009.

At the heart of its collection is a striking timeline of surfboards—from hefty redwood planks and early sugar‑pine designs to ultra-light fiberglass boards of today. Highlights include Duke Kahanamoku’s 1923 redwood “Makai” board and a 1912 alaia, offering a vivid look at the sport’s evolution. Photography enthusiasts will appreciate original gear used by pioneering shooter John “Doc” Ball, whose waterproof housing helped capture surfing’s early days.

A deeply inspiring exhibit features the board and bathing suit of Bethany Hamilton—the champion surfer who famously lost her arm in a shark attack—preserved as symbols of resilience and courage. Beyond permanent artifacts, the museum hosts rotating exhibitions that explore diverse facets of surf culture—women surfers, adaptive surfing, Vietnam-era surfing, and the intersection of art and science. Recent additions include “The Science of Surfing” and “China Beach: Surfing During the Vietnam War,” blending oceanography with historical narrative.

On-site events enhance the experience with surf film festivals, fundraisers, and concerts, all coordinated by a dedicated volunteer board. The museum's mission is to preserve, chronicle, and share surfing’s artistic, cultural, and historical legacy for future generations. The California Surf Museum offers something for everyone. Whether you’re a history buff, art lover, surfer, or simply curious, the museum is a standout destination on California's coast.

Bethany Hamilton's shark bitten surfboard.

Saturn V Rocket at the Kennedy Space Center

The Saturn V rocket at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida is one of the most awe-inspiring and historically significant artifacts from NASA’s Apollo era. Housed in the Apollo/Saturn V Center, this massive rocket stands as a powerful reminder of America’s early space achievements, particularly the missions that sent astronauts to the Moon. 

Measuring 363 feet in length and weighing over 6 million pounds, the Saturn V is the largest and most powerful rocket ever successfully flown. 

It was developed in the 1960s as part of the Apollo program and launched a total of 13 missions, including all six that landed humans on the Moon between 1969 and 1972. The rocket on display at Kennedy Space Center is one of only three surviving Saturn V rockets and is composed of unused flight-ready stages from the Apollo program. 

Visitors to the Apollo/Saturn V Center, which is accessible via a bus tour from the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, can walk the length of the rocket and get a close-up view of its three distinct stages. The exhibit provides detailed explanations of each stage's role in launching the spacecraft into space and propelling it toward the Moon. 

Beyond the rocket itself, the Apollo/Saturn V Center includes a wealth of exhibits that immerse visitors in the story of the Apollo program. Highlights include a recreated Apollo 8 launch, the Firing Room (where launch controllers managed missions), and the Moon rock exhibit, where visitors can actually touch a piece of lunar surface. 

The Saturn V rocket represents a monumental engineering achievement and a defining moment in human history. It embodies the ambition, innovation, and teamwork required to fulfill President John F. Kennedy’s vision of landing a man on the Moon and returning him safely to Earth. For anyone interested in space exploration, science, or history, seeing the Saturn V up close is an unforgettable experience and a powerful tribute to human ingenuity and exploration.

Lunar sample on display at Kennedy Space Center.