Join us for our biggest fundraising event of the year, as we celebrate history together under the stars. Make sure to secure your tickets before they sell out -- you won't want to miss this party!

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Early bird ticket pricing will be available through July 11th.

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CLICK HERE to get tickets.

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CLICK HERE to sponsor the event.

Join the Hermosa Beach Museum for the opening of our latest exhibit featuring the history of the Hermosa Beach Fire Department.

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Doors will open at 6PM, with a brief presentation from our Curator Jamie Erickson at 6:30PM.

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All are welcome, no registration necessary.

Join us for an enchanting evening celebrating romance with five acclaimed local authors at our Romance Author Roundtable. As part of our 2025: A Year of Local Authors series, this event is designed for readers who love stories filled with passion, heart, and happily-ever-afters.

We’re thrilled to partner with the Hermosa Beach Museum for this special night! The evening will begin at 5:00 PM at the HBFoL Bookstore, where guests can explore our curated book selection. 

Then, at 6:00PM, we’ll move to the museum for an engaging panel discussion with our featured authors:

- Alison Aimes: USA Today bestselling author of steamy sci-fi, fantasy, and contemporary romance

- Jayci Lee: Writing swoon-worthy Korean American love stories

- Emily Wibberley & Austin Siegemund-Broka: High school sweethearts turned bestselling romance duo

- AJ Wynn:  Crafting compelling tales of love, mystery, and imagination

Come hear these talented storytellers share their insights, inspirations, and the magic behind their novels. Whether you're a longtime romance fan or just discovering the genre, this event promises an evening filled with lively conversation and literary passion.

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Click HERE to RSVP

The Hermosa Beach community has had long and storied relationships with the oil below the ground since the discovery thereof in the early twentieth century. On Friday, January 31st at 6:30pm, the Hermosa Beach Museum will unveil its next rotating exhibit: The Drill’s Path: A Timeline of Oil Drilling in Hermosa Beach. The exhibit traces the history of oil in Hermosa and the South Bay from the turn of the century to the present. Join us at this opening event for a first look at the new exhibit.

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Doors will open at 6PM with a short presentation at 6:30 PM. Light refreshments will eb available. 

Join us for the closing event of our Winter Exhibit featuring local filmmaker Warren Miller.

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His daughter Chris and Museum Board Member Mark Shoemaker will share a Q&A session featuring photographs, stories and memories that did not make it into the exhibit.

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All are welcome - no registration necessary.

Join us at Gitana Cafe for the Hermosa Beach Museum’s exciting new interview series, Cafe Stories: Voices from Hermosa. Our next guests will be Scott Davey and Shannon Carr-Davey, discussing lifeguarding and beach culture from 3-4:30pm on Thursday, November 21. Bring a friend or meet a new one to enjoy coffee, tea, and memories of the South Bay!

Attendance is very limited and we may not be able to accommodate walk-ins; please RSVP in advance!

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Recording Link

On this Veteran's Day, in honor of Andrew Jefferson (A.J.) Shoemaker Jr., U.S. Navy Chief Pharmacist Mate, his son Mark is making a photo rich presentation on A.J.'s Pacific tours of duty during WWII.

Mark researched his father's military activity and recently retraced his footsteps in the South Pacific by traveling on a cargo ship throughout the coral atoll island country of Tuvala (Ellice Islands) where he found many WWII remnants.

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The presentation will cover island life before, during and after WWII, including the current struggles with rising sea level due to Climate Change. A.J.'s second tour of duty was on the Fletcher Class Destroyer USS Charles Ausburne where after numerous kamikaze attacks off Okinawa, celebrated the end of WWII.

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Afterwards, like so many other Veterans, A.J. settled in the South Bay, raised his family, and enjoyed a career in aerospace.

This presentation will follow the 11 AM Veterans Day Ceremony hosted by the City of Hermosa Beach. A reception will be held in the Museum afterwards, followed by this historical presentation.

Recording Link

Get into the spirit of the spooky season with a costumed Trick or Trivia night at the Hermosa Beach Museum from 6:30pm to 9:00pm on Thursday, October 17! Bring your terrifying team of up to six or meet new friends here to compete for prizes and pride, both as trivia champions and as the best-dressed team. Whether a longtime local or first-time visitor to Hermosa, you will be able to impress your friends with general trivia knowledge. Costumes optional but encouraged; Admission is $5 per person or $25 for a team of six; limited to 60 attendees; doors open at 6:30pm and trivia will run from 7:00pm to 8:15pm!

Please RSVP here.

Join us at the Hermosa Beach Museum for an evening of thrilling readings from upcoming surf-noir anthology The Amber Waves of Autumn with editor David M. Olsen and author Michael Scott Moore. Beverages will be served and light food will be provided.

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Click HERE to register for the event online

Test your wit and knowledge of local history, music, and culture in a round of Pub Trivia at the Hermosa Beach Museum on Thursday, July 18! Bring your friends or meet new ones here to form a team of up to six to compete for bragging rights and a prize. $5 admission; limited to 60 attendees; doors open at 6:00pm and trivia will run from 6:30 to 8:00pm!

$5 admission

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Click HERE to register for the event online

Celebrate the music of the Insomniac Cafe, 1958-1965, at the Hermosa Beach Museum on Thursday, June 20th, from 5:30pm to 8:30pm. The evening will feature the works of musicians known to have visited the famed Beatnik hotspot, including the Chambers Brothers, Linda Ronstadt, and Dizzy Gillespie, along with the shared histories of the Insomniac and the Lighthouse Cafe.

$5 admission

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Recording Link

Join HERmosa Circle and the Hermosa Beach Museum as we celebrate the history of women in Hermosa Beach. The event will feature a panel of speakers discussing music, skateboarding, surfing, and volleyball as well as live music - RSVP today to reserve your spot and receive a FREE drink ticket valid for (beer, wine, or non-alcoholic beverages).

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Click HERE to register for the event.

Thank you for joining us for our Annual Holiday Party at the Hermosa Beach Museum!

History enthusiasts, architecture aficionados, and the local community will soon have a unique opportunity to uncover Hermosa Beach’s past, as two of its most iconic homes open their doors to the public for the first time on September 10th. We invite you to step back in time and join us to celebrate this historic home designation.

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From 1-4 PM, Park Avenue between Monterey Boulevard and Loma Drive will be closed for a neighborhood block party to celebrate the designation of 2204 Monterey (Building Permit 62, built in 1913 and owned by Marsha Majka), as the first community residence to proudly bear historic landmark status. During the block party, the doors of this classic California beach bungalow will be open to tour. At 1:30 PM, speakers from the City Council, the Hermosa Beach Museum and the Hermosa Beach Chamber of Commerce will mark the occasion and will install a Museum-provided plaque.

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Also open for public tour will be 2160 Monterey Boulevard, directly across Park Avenue from Marsha’s home. This International Moderne icon (Building Permits 358/1822 and built in 1938) was originally designed by noted mid-century architect Earl Heitschmidt.  Apart from delving into these architectural treasures, attendees can revel in the spirited ambience of the event, with food, drink and music. All are welcome!

Thank you for attending our latest installment of Happy Hour with History! This month we were be joined by the South Bay Parkland Conservancy (SBPC) for a dynamic presentation from their President Jim Light on the Hermosa Greenbelt Rewilding.

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This presentation provided an overview of the SBPC mission and their work on the Greenbelt. It also explored the history of the Greenbelt and learn more about the endangered El Segundo Blue Butterfly, the overwintering Monarchs, why ice plant is being removed, and the future goals of the SBPC.

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CLICK HERE to watch a recording of this presentation on our YouTube Channel.

The Hermosa Beach Museum is proud to recognize 50 Years of Iron Man as the subject of our summer rotating exhibit. This historic South Bay tradition has become the triathlon event for Hermosa Beach every July 4th weekend, and also the supporter of local nonprofits and citizens in need. Featuring the catch phrase run, paddle, chug this event never fails to be described as the last of the wild, old school, local community beach events that keeps Hermosa, Hermosa. Join us at the Hermosa Beach Museum as we celebrate this cultural legacy and unveil a new exhibit. We will also have at the event a special edition coffee table book by local photographer Chris Miller for sale, and special edition Iron Man Anniversary prints by local artist Daniel Inez. This exhibit will run from June 30th to September 29th, with the opening event taking place at the Museum on Friday June 30th from 5-9 PM.

Join the Hermosa Beach Museum, City of Hermosa Beach and the South Bay Boardriders Club for the 2023 Surfers Walk of Fame Kick off Party at the Hermosa Beach Community Center.

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All are welcome at the reception- no ticket reservation necessary

Join the Hermosa Beach Museum for our Annual Membership Meeting Sunday March 26th at 3 PM. This year's meeting will be held at a historic home on The Strand in Hermosa Beach.

The address of the home will be revealed in your registration confirmation email.

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To attend this meeting, you must be a current and up-to-date member with the Museum. To check the status of your membership, please email staff at hermosabeachmuseum@gmail.com. If you register for the event and are not a current member, staff will reach out to help renew your membership or cancel your ticket reservation.

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This is a limited capacity event - tickets will not be available at the door the day of the event. Registration will close on Friday March 24th at noon.

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THANK YOU TO TOWER 12 FOR SPONSORING THIS EVENT!

The Hermosa Beach Historical Society was excited to have artist, John Van Hamersveld, give a talk at the Hermosa Beach Museum. Thanks for joining us for an evening of art, culture, and history!

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CLICK HERE to watch a recording of the Q&A with John on our YouTube Channel today!

RECEPTION:

Hermosa Beach Museum @ 5-7PM

CEREMONY:

Community Theatre @7PM

Thank you for joining us online for a presentation on early South Bay History with Mark Shoemaker from the Hermosa Beach Historical Society Board of Directors. Mark explored the beginnings of our local harbors, railroads and real estate in a comprehensive presentation with vivid historical photographs.

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CLICK HERE to watch a recording on our YouTube Chanel today!

We are pleased to announce the return of our Annual Gala Fundraising Event benefiting the Hermosa Beach Historical Society & Museum! Join us on August 27th at St. Cross Church to celebrate history together under the stars.
 

Doors open at 6 PM for a night of dancing, live music, raffle prizes, drinks, and food provided by The Bottle Inn & Slay Beach.
 

This year's theme is "Beach Through the Decades".

Thank you for joining the Hermosa Beach Historical Society at the Hermosa Beach Museum for the June installment of Happy Hour with History! We were joined by Producer and Director Carl Ackerman for a screening of his latest documentary THE LIFESTORY OF DOC BALL. 

At the meeting we reviewed the upcoming activities strategic plan as well as a general overview of the Museum operations.

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CLICK HERE to watch a recording of the meeting online.

Thank you for joining the Hermosa Beach Museum on Saturday March 5th at 4:30 PM for a presentation with author Bruce Gabrielson on Southland Surf Clubs from the mid 50s to the mid 70s.

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Thank you for joining us at the Hermosa Beach Community Center to celebrate the life of the late photographer and artist Robi Hutas.

To see the video presentation that was shared in the Community Theatre, click here!

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This exhibition will be on display through March of 2022.

The Hermosa Beach Historical Society was pleased to participate in the 2021 Fiesta Hermosa Locale by hosting an educational booth in the Garden.

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Thank you to everyone who volunteered- it was wonderful to see our community once again out and about in Hermosa!

Welcome back to Happy Hour with History at the Hermosa Beach Museum!

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This month we will be joined by professional skateboarder Cindy Whitehead to explore the history of skateboarding in Hermosa Beach from the 1960's to present day.

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Click here to watch a recording of this presentation!

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We are proud to announce the opening of our first ever Student Curated Exhibition SKATEBOARDING, THEN by HBHS Collections Volunteer Dylan Lombardo.

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This exhibition will be on display through summer 2021, and can be explored during our standard hours of operation. Click here to learn more about this exhibit!​​

Join us in February for a presentation on the history of Loreto, Hermosa Beach's sister city in Baja California Sur, Mexico. We will also explore the story behind how these two beach towns came together in 1967, and how the Hermosa Beach Sister City Association has built a United States Congressionally Recognized Program that continues to impact the community of Loreto today. Click here to read watch this presentation online today!

Join the Hermosa Beach Historical Society & Museum on October 29th at 6:30 PM to hear some chilling stories set in our very own Hermosa Beach and South Bay Communities. You can register for free on zoom. Some of the tales are based on local legends, some are based on first hand accounts, and some are just for fun! Click here to watch our spooky program from the month of October!

Join us online for the second installment of our virtual lecture series, featuring Willie Aron and the history of Jazz in Los Angeles. Spots are limited, so register on Zoom to secure yours today! Click here to learn more about this past presentation.

Join us at the Hermosa Beach Museum to celebrate our new exhibition, and enjoy film documentary GOING ATTRACTIONS by local producer April Wright in the Community Theatre. Tickets can be purchased online and at the door.

Join us at the Hermosa Beach Museum for a reception at 5:30pm, and a screening in the Community Theatre at 7:30 to celebrate the life and work of Warren Miller.

If you spend time at the beach this summer, you’ll be no stranger to the variety of gulls, pelicans, and even parrots that call the South Bay home. To learn more about the birds that we share the beach with, join us at the Hermosa Beach Museum at 6pm on Thursday, June 26, for birding expert Bob Shanman’s Happy Hour with History on The Wonder of Birds! Bob Shanman leads bird walks at the Ballona Wetlands, fundraises for South Bay Wildlife Rehabilitation, and ran a Wild Birds Unlimited Franchise for 28 years. Don’t miss this opportunity to hear interesting stories and facts about the birds in our backyard and around the world!

Admission is free and light refreshments will be provided!

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CLICK HERE to RSVP

Join the Hermosa Beach Museum for our Annual Museum Celebration! This year's event will be held at Local Collaborative, located in the historic Bijou Theatre!

At this event we will recognize and celebrate milestones met in 2024, and share a brief presentation on what we have planned for 2025.

Thank you to Tower12 for sponsoring this event, and to Local Collaborative for hosting.

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CLICK HERE to register online.

Do you have photographs showcasing South Bay history or an interest in seeing what Hermosa looked like in bygone years? Visit the Hermosa Beach Museum between 3 and 6pm on Wednesday, March 19, to celebrate the launch of the South Bay Historical Photograph Drive! The Hermosa Beach museum will scan your physical photographs or accept your digital photographs to add to our collections, contributing to a growing archive of local history. Don’t miss this opportunity to see rare photographs of Hermosa’s history and contribute your own to the South Bay’s story. Admission is free and light refreshments will be provided; walk-ins are welcome, but please RSVP here if you plan to attend.

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If you are unable to attend the event in person but would still like to donate a digital copy of a photo, you can email the image to photodonation@hbmuseum.org today!

The Hermosa Beach Friends of the Library, in partnership with the Hermosa Beach Museum, is thrilled to launch 2025: The Year of Local Authors with an exciting panel discussion on January 30th, 2025, from 6:00–8:00 PM.

This inaugural event, Hollywood Stories, brings together two celebrated authors: Jim Fredrick, author of Opening Weekend: An Insider’s Look at Marketing Hollywood’s Hits and Flops, an entertaining dive into the highs and lows of Hollywood’s most talked-about releases. Chris Nashawaty, author of The Future Was Now: Madmen, Mavericks, and the Epic Sci-Fi Summer of 1982, a nostalgic exploration of the groundbreaking sci-fi films that shaped pop culture.

Event Highlights:

5:00–6:00 PM: Arrive early to explore our bookstore, savor star-studded refreshments, and strike a pose at the Hollywood-themed photo booth.

6:00 PM: The main event begins—a captivating panel discussion in the museum with these acclaimed authors as they share insider stories, fascinating insights, and reflections on their work.

Don’t miss this unique opportunity to celebrate storytelling, cinema, and the launch of an incredible year dedicated to local authors.

Admission is free, and all are welcome! CLICK HERE TO RSVP.

Are you a high school student interested in how sports go down in history? At the Hermosa Beach Museum, you can take part in writing skateboarding’s story as a volunteer research assistant. Taking on the role of a museum registrar, you will gain real-world experience in research, data organization, and interpretation as you help document our collection of over 100 skateboards. Optionally, you may write brief descriptions of your favorite boards to be published on the museum website or social media. Enroll here to take part in one or both of our workshops on Sundays December 8th and 15th from12pm to 4pm.

Photographs may be taken during this event for use in museum promotional materials; please inform staff if you would not like photographs.

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These are FREE workshops - Click HERE to register for one or both sessions.

Join us for the opening of a new exhibit at the Museum, No Boundaries: The Life and Work of Warren Miller.

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This exhibit will feature photographs, art, mementos and stories from the life of Warren Miller, famed ski film maker who started his production company right here in the heart of Hermosa.

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All are welcome - no RSVP necessary.

Join us at Gitana Cafe for the Hermosa Beach Museum’s exciting new interview series, Cafe Stories: Voices from Hermosa. Every other Thursday beginning on November 7, Gitana Cafe will host the Hermosa Beach Museum for an interview with well-known members of the Hermosa Beach community. Our first guest will be Kevin Cody, discussing the history of local journalism and beach culture from 3-4:30pm on Thursday, November 7. Bring a friend or meet a new one to enjoy coffee, tea, and memories of the South Bay! Attendance is very limited and we will not be able to accommodate walk-ins; please RSVP in advance!

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Click HERE to register

The Hermosa Beach Museum is proud to host Vicki Valosik, author of exciting new cultural history Swimming Pretty: The Untold Story of Women in Water, for a book reading, signing, and Q&A on Monday, September 30. Per Valosik, Swimming Pretty “traces a century of aquatic performance, from vaudeville to the Olympic arena and brings to life the colorful cast of characters whose ‘pretty swimming’ not only laid the groundwork for the sport of synchronized swimming but forever changed women’s relationships with water. Far more than bathing beauties, these swimming starlets ushered in sensible swimwear and influenced lifesaving and physical education programs, helping to drop national drowning rates and paving the way for new generations of female athletes.” Don’t miss the opportunity to ask Vicki Valosik about any curiosities you have regarding what is sure to be a beach history mainstay on September 30, from 6-8pm at the Hermosa Beach Museum. 

Please RSVP here.

Join us for the unveiling of a historic paddleboard at the Hermosa Beach Museum on Saturday, August 31! Originally built in the 1930s, this paddleboard was owned by famed waterman Pete Peterson and donated to the museum by decorated paddleboarder Jim Mollica. Local historian and museum board member Mark Shoemaker will present on the history of the board and hold a Q&A with Jim Mollica. Don’t miss this exclusive event! The unveiling will take place from 2pm to 5pm with the presentation beginning at 2:30pm. Admission is free; RSVP preferred, walk-ins are welcome; beverages will be available for purchase.

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Click HERE to register for the event online

The Hermosa Beach Museum is proud to recognize local historic bars as the subject of our summer rotating exhibit titled CHEERS, HERMOSA. This exhibit will explore the sense of nostalgic appreciation and fondness for local historic bars, and the lasting impression they leave upon their patrons. These brick and mortar locations are culturally significant as timeless gathering places where stories are shared, traditions are upheld, and the rich tapestry of community history is woven into every drink poured. Join us at the Hermosa Beach Museum as we celebrate this legacy and unveil a new exhibit. This exhibit will run from July 14th to September 30th, with the opening event taking place at the Museum on Sunday July 14th from 2-4 PM.

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All are welcome- no RSVP necessary.

The City of Hermosa Beach is celebrating the 25th Anniversary of the Community Center Skatepark this Saturday, June 8th from 10AM to 2PM.

Afterwards, we invite you to join us at the Museum for a happy hour with guest speaker Cindy Whitehead, and to see an exclusive temporary display  of skateboards from our Tattu Skateboard Collection here at the Hermosa Beach Museum.

The Museum will be open for visitors to see the collections from 12 Noon to 4:30 PM, with the presentation taking pace at 2:30 PM. 

All are welcome, no registration required.

Interested in the music, poetry, art, and history of the Beatnik Movement? The Hermosa Beach Museum is hosting a night in honor of the historic Insomniac Cafe this month! Drawing on the Insomniac’s history as a cultural touchstone, the evening will feature open mic poetry, music, and storytelling along with coffee from Gitana Cafe and light refreshments. This event will take place at the Hermosa Beach Museum (710 Pier Avenue, Hermosa Beach, CA 90254) on February 29 with doors opening at 5:30pm and poetry readings beginning at 6:00pm.
 

Thank you for joining us at the Hermosa Beach Community Center for the annual California Beach Volleyball Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony. 

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CLICK HERE to learn about the 2023 Inductees.

Thanks for joining us at the Hermosa Beach Museum to celebrate the legacy of Dale Velzy, and reveal his commemorative plaque that recognizes his contributions to surf culture before its installation in Manhattan Beach.

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Dale Velzy grew up, and learned to surf, and shape surfboards in Hermosa Beach. A plaque honoring him, for what is recognized by many as the worlds first commercial surfboard shop, will be installed on the northeast corner of Manhattan Beach Blvd. and Ocean Drive.

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At the event, there will be an open microphone signup list for people to share their memories of Dale Velzy, kicked off by the one and only Bing Copeland.

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CLICK HERE to watch a recording of the speakers from the event.

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CLICK HERE to watch a recording of the powerpoint presentation from the event.

Thank you for attending our latest Museum Open House, and Iron Man Speaker Panel!

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CLICK HERE to watch a recording of this presentation on our YouTube Channel.

Thank you for joining us for this event!

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ABOUT THE DOCUMENTARY:

The documentary Grandpa Cherry Blossom by Mira Costa High School Student Maddox Chen explores the life of Francis Uyematsu, a Japanese immigrant, told through the words of Mary Uyematsu Kao, his granddaughter, and Chuck Currier, a local historian and former teacher. Francis Uyematsu created a successful flower nursery, owning over 130 acres of land, until the Japanese Internment during World War II, when he was forced to sell his land. Entire neighborhoods now sit on his former land, filled with hundreds of homes and high schools, and the flowers he created are no longer his.

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Join the Hermosa Beach Historical Society & Museum for the opening of our latest rotating exhibit Proutyline Products.

Thank you for joining the Hermosa Beach Historical Society on SUNDAY, February 26th at 3:00PM for our February installment of Happy Hour with History.

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Historian Helen Yoshida expanded upon the history of World War II incarceration through oral history interviews and archival documents about the U.S. Department of Justice camps that interned Japanese, Germans, Italians, Japanese Peruvians, and their children.

ABOUT Helen Yoshida:

Helen Yoshida, an oral historian, works as the Communications Writer at the Japanese American National Museum. She holds a BA in English from the University of California, Irvine, and an MA in History, with a focus on oral history, from California State University, Fullerton. Her work has appeared in The Atlantic, The Oral History Review, The Southern California Review, Discover Nikkei, and the Heart Mountain Wyoming Foundation’s magazine, Kokoro Kara, among others.

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CLICK HERE to watch a recording of this presentation on our YouTube Channel today.

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Join the Hermosa Beach Historical Society & Museum and {pages} a bookstore for an evening of nautical noir! The Dark Waves of Winter is a follow-up to the critically acclaimed anthology, The Silver Waves of Summer. In this installment, we have again compiled stories from some of the greatest short story writers alive. From Bram Stoker Award winners, to National Bestsellers, to Mystery Writers of America Grand Masters. These sun bleached noir stories sink their formidable literary hooks in, and don't let go until the exciting end. A must read, this cold, wet winter.

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Tickets are $5

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Museum Members receive a drink ticket at the door.

Click HERE to reserve your ticket.

Join us at the Hermosa Beach Museum for the CARRIE Pre- Movie Reception on October 13th at 6:30 PM. 

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Wear your best 70s Prom Attire- winners will be crowned!

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Reception will have popcorn, cotton candy, and a bar! We hope to see you there!

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Tickets for the screening in the Community Theatre can be purchased online with the City of Hermosa Beach by clicking here.

Join us at the Museum for our upcoming Docent Open House! Being a Museum docent is a wonderful volunteer opportunity where you can learn more about our community, work with AMAZING people, plan fun educational events and share YOUR Hermosa story with visitors!

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RSVP to Museum Staff at hermosabeachmuseum@gmail.com

Join the Hermosa Beach Historical Society at the Hermosa Beach Museum for the July installment of Happy Hour with History! We will be joined by author Jim Kempton for a reading of his latest publication, WOMEN ON WAVES- A Cultural History: from Ancient Goddesses and Hawaiian Queens to Malibu Movie Stars and Millennial Champions.

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO:

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Ticket registration through Eventbrite is required for this event click here to get your ticket!

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HBHS Members will receive a drink ticket at the door.

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We strongly recommend that all attendees wear a mask at this event. Thank you for helping us keep our guests and staff safe.

Hand sanitizer and social distance signage are throughout the galleries.

Thank you for joining us at the Hermosa Beach Museum to honor you- the Founders, Charter Members and Life Members of Hermosa Beach Historical Society.

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We had a wonderful afternoon of sharing stories, celebrating our progress as a nonprofit museum, and looking forward to our future as a fully accredited museum.

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CLICK HERE to watch the recording online today!

Join the Hermosa Beach Historical Society at the Hermosa Beach Museum & Community Center for the kick off party!

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​CLICK HERE to read more about the event and the honorees.

Thank you for joining the Hermosa Beach Historical Society AT THE LIGHTHOUSE CAFE on Monday February 28th at 6:00PM for a presentation on the historical significance and impact of the Lighthouse Cafe with Jacques Lesure.

We were very excited to be able to support The Lighthouse Cafe! Here was an outline for the evening:

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6:00-6:30 PM: Arrival- grab your drinks, some food, and find a seat!

6:30 PM: Lecture with Jacques Lesure followed by Jazz music!
 

To read more about Jacques Lesure and connect with him, please visit his website: https://jacqueslesure.com/

Join us at the Hermosa Beach Museum for a screening of CARRIE.

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FREE ADMISSION - $2 for pizza

Masks will be required regardless of vaccination status.

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This event is hosted by students from Mira Costa and Redondo Union High Schools.

The Hermosa Beach Historical Society and {pages} a bookstore and are pleased to present an evening celebrating the launch of The Silver Waves of Summer. Join us on Thursday, August 5th at 6 pm along with Michael Scott Moore, Tod Goldberg, Naomi Hirahara, Antoine Wilson, and other contributing authors who will be sharing stories and signing books.

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If you purchased a book copy and were unable to pick it up at the event, they will be available for pick up during open hours W-Sun from 2-4 PM.

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Click here to watch a recording of this presentation!

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MEMBERS: please join us for our Annual Membership Meeting at the Museum. We will have limited capacity seating by reservation.

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Join us online in April to meet Captain Nancy Caruso. Nancy will tell us the story of her work to protect our local sea life, her community programs that consist of 12,000 school children and more than 250 volunteer divers, and the historical significance of the species she is devoted to restoring. Click here to watch online today!

Join us in January for a presentation on our latest additions to the Hermosa Beach Museum Collections & Archives accessioned in 2020. While our museum doors were closed to visitors, we were able to accomplish some exciting collections work we would like to share with you! This presentation will be led by our HBHS Staff, and Collections Management Volunteers. Click here to watch this presentation online today!

Join us online for the fourth installment of our virtual lecture series, featuring Domenic Priore on South Bay Surf Music from Westchester to Haggerty's, 1960-1965. Spots are limited, so register on Zoom to secure yours today! Click here to learn more about this past presentation. 

Join us online for the first installment of our virtual lecture series, featuring Corinne Laverty and her book North American Galapagos: The Historic Channel Islands Biological Survey. Spots are limited, so register on Zoom to secure yours today! Click here to learn more about this past presentation.

Join us at the Hermosa Beach Museum for the opening of our new temporary exhibition that will explore over 80 years of entertainment in Hermosa Beach. 

>> Learn More

Join us at the Hermosa Beach Museum & Community Theatre to celebrate the inductees for 2019!

>> Learn More

Join Hermosa Beach Museum Board Member Mark Shoemaker for a discussion of California’s aviation industry from the early twentieth century to today’s largest aerospace companies!

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In the early twentieth century, the spectacle and utility of aircraft brought the nascent industry to the South Bay. As zeppelin landings, air races of the 1920s, and Hollywood flair built public excitement around air travel, the beginnings of the largest and most densely-concentrated aerospace industry in the world took shape in Southern California.

To hear about the key players, events, and stories of aviation’s inception, join us for what is sure to be a memorable Happy Hour with History at the Hermosa Beach Museum!

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Door will open at 6 PM with the presentation starting at 6:30 PM.

$5 admission. Online registration required.

CLICK HERE to register online.

Join us at Gitana Cafe at 3pm on Thursday, April 3, for the next installment of the Hermosa Beach Museum’s fan-favorite interview series, Cafe Stories: Voices from Hermosa. Our next guest, Sonny Vardeman, is an accomplished local waterman, decorated former lifeguard, and respected former surf shop owner with extensive experiences in the South Bay. Bring a friend or meet a new one to enjoy coffee, tea, and memories of the South Bay!

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ATTENDANCE IS LIMITED and walk ins cannot be accomidated, online registration required. Click HERE to register online.

“Timing is everything. Show me the smartest man in the world without timing and I’ll show you a man with nothing” boasted oilman Roy Stinnett in 1988. In the early 1970s, he had purchased four oil wells in Hermosa Beach just a year before oil prices increased tenfold; recently, however, the Fire Department shut his operations down due to a large leak from one of his sites. From debates over the first ban on oil drilling in 1932 to the “Measure ‘O’” vote in 2015, grassroots community organization, strong personalities, and backdoor dealings have driven decisions around oil in Hermosa. To hear these stories and explore our exhibit on oil history in Hermosa, join presenters Mark Shoemaker and Ryan Basford on Thursday, February 20, at the Hermosa Beach Museum! Doors will open at 6:00pm and the presentation will begin at 6:30pm; light refreshments will be provided. $5 admission; please register here!

Join us at Gitana Cafe for the next interview in the Hermosa Beach Museum’s oral history series, Cafe Stories: Voices from Hermosa. Our next guest will be Mike Flaherty, former Public Works Superintendent and current Planning Commission member, from 3-4:30pm on Thursday, January 23.

Bring a friend or meet a new one to enjoy coffee, tea, and memories of the South Bay!

Recording Link

The Hermosa Beach Museum would like to invite our friends, family, donors and community members to our annual holiday party. We are excited to celebrate another successful year of growth and learning at the Museum.

Brush off your go to karaoke song, and come ready to steal the show, or ready to simply enjoy some music! We will have some tasty holiday treats, new merchandise, and a great holiday spirit to kick off the season!

No RSVP necessary - all are welcome!

Richard Douglas King was a prolific architect from the 1910-1930s with well over 125 commercial and residential designs throughout Southern California. Of note in Hermosa Beach are the Metropolitan (Bijou) Theater and the NW and NE corner buildings at Pier and Hermosa Avenue, as well as his 1917-built residence on Manhattan Avenue. This architectural tour will highlight and stop at several locations for photo opportunities, including R.D. King’s various designs in Culver City, the Wilshire District, downtown Los Angeles, and finally a spectacular rare visit to the original condition 16-story Villa Riviera Penthouse where R.D. King lived with his family for several years. From the time of its completion in 1928 through to 1955, it was the second-tallest building, and the tallest private building in Southern California. It has been called the city's "most elegant landmark" and a building that "has helped define the city" - it was one of the few buildings in Long Beach to withstand the 1933 earthquake. A meal and one beverage at an exclusive champagne lunch at the Villa Riviera is included in the ticket price. The bus tour will depart at 9am (please arrive by 8:40am) at 710 Pier Avenue on Sunday, November 17, and return in the late afternoon.

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Click HERE to purchase tickets.

Did you know several scenes from "Carrie" were filmed at the Community Center? Join us Friday, October 25th at 6:30pm for a 70's era prom pre-party including a live 70's band, photo ops at locations from the film, and food & beverage concessions. The museum - including the shower from the film - will be open from 6pm until the film screening begins at 8pm. The event is hosted by the Hermosa Beach Community Resources Department with the support of Leadership Hermosa Beach, the Hermosa Beach Museum, and the South Bay Music Connection. 

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Tickets are available through the City of Hermosa Beach website.

Embrace the Roarin’ 20s at the Hermosa Beach Museum's next Happy Hour with History: Speakeasy Summer Beer Tasting on Thursday, September 19! Enjoy a presentation on the history of Prohibition in Hermosa and stories from local watering holes before finding your favorite beer of the summer in a blind taste test. Afterwards, take in music of the 1920s while you explore Hermosa Beach’s historic bars in the new “Cheers, Hermosa!” exhibit. $10 tickets include admission to the presentation, four 3oz samples of refreshing summer beers or one glass of wine, and complimentary light snacks. Doors will open at 6:30pm on September 19, with the presentation beginning at 7pm and the museum remaining open until 9pm.

Please RSVP here.

The 2024 Hermosa Beach Museum Annual Gala Fundraiser will take place in the evening on August 24th at St. Cross Church in Hermosa Beach.

Join us for our biggest fundraising event of the year, as we celebrate history together under the stars. Make sure to secure your tickets before they sell out -- you won't want to miss this party!

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Click HERE to register for the event online

Whether they are Junior Lifeguards, interested in the program, or looking to make friends, participants between 9 and 13 years old will have fun learning about lifeguards at Hermosa Beach Museum’s History of Lifeguarding program. Participants will produce scale drawings of lifeguard towers, explore museum exhibits including a full-size lifeguard tower, discuss developments in lifeguarding over the course of the twentieth century, and take part in a presentation by representatives from the LACoFD Lifeguard Division! This free program will take place between 10:00am and 11:30am on Saturday, July 13.

Free admission

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Please RSVP Here!

Join the Hermosa Beach Museum for our Annual Membership Meeting Sunday April 14th at 3 PM. This year's meeting will be held at yet another amazing historic home on The Strand in Hermosa Beach. (The address of the home is listed on the registration link provided here.) ​

To attend this meeting, you must be a current and up-to-date member with the Museum. To check the status of your membership, please email staff at hermosabeachmuseum@gmail.com. If you register for the event and are not a current member, staff will reach out to help renew your membership or cancel your ticket reservation.

This is a limited capacity event - tickets will not be available at the door the day of the event. Registration will close on Sunday April 14th at 11 AM.

THANK YOU TO TOWER 12 FOR SPONSORING THIS EVENT!

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Click HERE to register for the event.

Planning on gifting a loved one or treating yourself to an Ancestry.com subscription this holiday season? If so, good news! Our Board Member & local historian Mark Shoemaker will be hosting a Genealogy 101 in person workshop at the Museum to show you how to build out your family tree with the platform while incorporating resources from associated historical databases to help create a story about your relatives and family history.

Thank you for joining the Hermosa Beach Museum for our October webinar with the DNA Doe Project, and how they are employing modern technology to solve historical crime cases. We were joined by guest speaker Carl Koppelman, a lifetime resident of South Bay who has spent the past 14 years in the effort to restore the names to the unidentified deceased, and resolve decades-old missing persons cases with the DNA Doe Project. Carl will be exploring how the organization operates, as well as reviewing case studies such as the recent identification of Catherine Parker-Johnson whose remains were found in Redondo Beach in 2001. Through his forensic artwork, he is able to bring attention to these cases via social media, and through internet sleuthing, has located eight previously missing persons as John Does and Jane Does. Carl has been profiled in numerous media sources, including: Crime Watch Daily, Vice Media, AARP Magazine, ABC Channel 7 Eyewitness News in Los Angeles, A&E’s The Killing Season docuseries, and Atavist Magazine’s The Girl in the Picture. He is currently a volunteer for the non-profit DNA Doe Project, which employs a methodology called Investigative Genetic Genealogy. The DNA Doe Project has restored the identities of over 100 persons who were found deceased, and whom authorities were unable to identify by traditional means.

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CLICK HERE to watch a recording of this webinar on our YouTube Channel.

Thank you or joining us at our 7th Annual Gala Fundraising Event benefiting the Hermosa Beach Museum! Join us on August 26th at St. Cross Church to celebrate history together under the stars.

Doors open at 6 PM for a night of dancing, live music, raffle prizes, dinner & drinks!

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LIVE MUSIC by Jukebox

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DRINKS provided by Uncorked & Hermosa Brewing

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DINNER provided by The Bottle Inn.

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Apres-Beach attire. This event is 21+ only.

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Thank you to everyone who attended!

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ABOUT THE DOCUMENTARY:

The documentary Grandpa Cherry Blossom by Mira Costa High School Student Maddox Chen explores the life of Francis Uyematsu, a Japanese immigrant, told through the words of Mary Uyematsu Kao, his granddaughter, and Chuck Currier, a local historian and former teacher. Francis Uyematsu created a successful flower nursery, owning over 130 acres of land, until the Japanese Internment during World War II, when he was forced to sell his land. Entire neighborhoods now sit on his former land, filled with hundreds of homes and high schools, and the flowers he created are no longer his.

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Bring your friends and feel the warm waves of surf and community for the Hermosa Beach premiere screening of To Be Frank, a feel-good surf film told through an inspiring waterman that digs into what's BEHIND the surf, and perhaps behind everything we do, whether on land or in the water.

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Raffle tickets available -- $5 each for a custom surfboard by Barahona Surfboards. All raffle proceeds to benefit Jimmy Miller Memorial Foundation.

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Yes, we will be feeding you hungry surfers, too! Pizza/beer style. Pizza is free, bring your laundry quarters for PBR -- all beer proceeds direct to Hermosa Museum.

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CLICK HERE to reserve your ticket.

In preparation for the opening of our latest Exhibit Proutyline Products, thank you for joining us online with local historian and Hermosa Beach Museum Board Member Mark Shoemaker and our Museum Director & Curator Jamie Erickson for an in depth exploration of the founding of Hermosa Tile by T.C. Prouty and his lengthy career that included the manufacturing of door hangers, speed indicators, electrical supplies, tile, porcelain, neon signs as well as numerous patents for revolutionary equipment and formulas. 

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CLICK HERE to watching a recording of this webinar on our YouTube Channel today!

Join us at the Hermosa Beach Community Center for the premier of Hail Mary, a new surf film featuring Balaram Stack.

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Reception: Hermosa Beach Museum

Surf Film: Community Theatre

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Admission is free- all are welcome!

Come celebrate the past year with mirth and merriment, and the Legend of Surfing Santa with Easy Reader's Kevin Cody.

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Doors open at 6PM

Join us at the Hermosa Beach Museum for the opening of our latest rotating exhibition ONE WALL AT A TIME. This exhibition will feature the Hermosa Beach Murals Project and their decade long legacy of bringing public art to life in the City of Hermosa Beach.

CLICK HERE to learn more about the HBMP.

Join the Hermosa Beach Historical Society for the world premiere of PATTI ASTOR'S TRUE STORY based on the fabulous life of our very own, Patti Astor, the Queen of the Downtown Scene.

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Opening reception in the Hermosa Beach Museum. Film screening in the Community Theatre, followed by a Q & A session hosted by Dency Nelson.

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Reception starts at 6:00pm. (doors at 5:30) Have a drink or two and enjoy the Museum's exhibits with a personal twist - mini tours given by the HBHS expert docents! A true advocate for local art and culture, Patti has been a docent at the HB Museum for 10 years and wanted to celebrate the premier of her first film by giving back!

Tickets $10

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CLICK HERE to purchase your screening tickets online!

Proceeds benefit the HBHS Docent Program.

We will be hosting a little impromptu open house tomorrow night at the Museum from 5-7 PM. ALL ARE WELCOME!

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If you have wanted to learn more about volunteering, or perhaps you have a neighbor who has yet to visit us- this is a great time to drop by for a drink and say hello!

Cross Step Content announces the premiere of its first film, ‘Gender Outlaw, a bodysurfing story’, a documentary profiling
transgender athlete Tyler Wilde. Directed by Cross Step Content founder Peter Williams. The film will be premiering at the Hermosa Beach Museum on Saturday, June 4th 2022.
 

Gender Outlaw, a bodysurfing story, is a documentary that navigates the tumultuous waters that Tyler Wilde, a transgender bodysurfer and teacher has had to move through as he searched for
big surf, his true self and his chosen family.
This is a story about the resilience and acceptance that Tyler found, and that many transgender individuals have had to explore in their personal journeys as they go through their transition. Tyler is honest and raw about the process, but he also shows us how the joys in his life; bodysurfing and his unexpected community have helped him find his true self.

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To celebrate the story of Tyler and the documentary premier, we will also have a some items on display from the Gillis Beach Bodysurfing Association for this event.

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Thank you to everyone who attended the event! Stay tuned for more screening opportunities in the greater Los Angeles area.

Thank you for joining us at the Hermosa Beach Historical Society at the Hermosa Beach Museum for the March installment of Happy Hour with History! We were joined by author Kevin Salk for a reading of his latest publication, PUNK: PHOTOS FROM A FAN'S PERSPECTIVE. 

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Special Guest Appearance by DEZ CADENA of Black Flag.

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CLICK HRE TO WATCH THIS PRESENTATION RECORDING ONLINE!

Join us at the Hermosa Beach Community Center to celebrate Warren Miller. There will be a reception in the Museum at 6 PM, followed by the film screening upstairs in the Theatre at 7:30 PM.

The Hermosa Beach Historical Society will be hosting a booth at the Hermosa Harmony Festival, between 10th and 11th Street on the sand.

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To sign up as a volunteer and claim your free ticket, click here!

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Interested in becoming a docent? Join us at the Museum for a workshop to learn more about our most important volunteer team at the Museum. All are welcome, no experience necessary!

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RSVP to Museum Staff at:

hermosabeachmuseum@gmail.com

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Join us for our June webinar on Los Angeles Car Culture with guest panelists Alec Carlson, Anne Williams, and Tom Zimmerman! We will hit the road with our panelists to explore our history with cars, and how the joy of driving has brought all of us together. We will also get a glimpse into a new generation of LA car enthusiasts who are already busy in their garages making history today. Click here to watch this presentation online today!

Join us online in March as representatives from the Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach, and Redondo Beach Historical Societies team up to present a history of their beach city piers! Click here to watch this presentation online today!

The Hermosa Beach Historical Society & Museum is proud to present our annual Tongva Experience Field Trip virtually for our Hermosa Beach 4th Grade Students this year. We would like to thank the Hermosa Beach Kiwanis Club for sponsoring this program.

We are thrilled to welcome back Julia Bogany, a Tribal Council Member and the Cultural Consultant for the Tongva-Gabrielino, the native people of the South Bay. Julia will be sharing the history, stories, and culture of the Tongva Tribe with our students to help fulfill their California History educational requirement.

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Click here to take this field trip online!

Join us online for the third installment of our virtual lecture series, featuring Jared Nigro from the Los Angeles Railroad Heritage Foundation on the story of Southern California's Pacific Electric Railway Cars. Spots are limited, so register on Zoom to secure yours today! Click here to learn more about this past presentation!

Join us at the Hermosa Beach Museum for our 2020 Docent Training Class. We welcome all members in the community to attend, and empower you to become a steward of history today by joining our amazing docent team! Please RSVP to hbhs.erickson@gmail.com if you are interested in attending. 

A huge thanks to everyone who keeps our Museum running all year long, and to the McNally Family for hosting at their home!

Join us at St. Cross Church for our Annual Gala Fundraising Event!

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