The Santa Barbara Maritime Museum (SBMM) is pleased to present “Southern California Beach Culture from George Freeth to World War II” a lecture by Patrick Moser taking place on Thursday, July 20, 2023 at 7:00 p.m. The presentation, incorporating some of the stories from Moser’s book, Surf & Rescue, will be enhanced with original photographs of the people and places who built California beach culture in the first half of the 20th century. Cost is free for SBMM’s Navigator Circle Members, $10 for all other members, and $20 for members of the public. There will also be a pre-lecture reception for members only from 6:15-6:45 p.m. Learn more about the event and register here: https://sbmm.org/santa-barbara-event/santa-barbara-maritime-museum-presents-southern-california-beach-culture-from-george-freeth-to-world-war-ii-a-lecture-with-patrick-moser/

Moser’s presentation introduces the early history of California beach culture as we recognize it today—surfing, lifeguards, and the image of California’s beaches as places of fun, health, and sex appeal. The arc of that story began with the arrival of native-Hawaiian George Freeth in Southern California in 1907. He made headlines with his rescue of seven fishermen, an act of heroism that highlighted his innovative lifeguarding techniques; but he also funded California's first surf club and coached both male and female athletes including Olympic swimming champion and “father of modern surfing” Duke Kahanamoku. Freeth combined surfing and lifeguarding to create the foundation of what would become an important part of the Golden State’s global identity.