Natalie
Kotsch 1998
Founder
of the International Surfing Museum
The International Surfing Museum of Huntington Beach began
as the vision of local realtor Natalie Kotsch. Realizing
that surfing was a major part of life for the residents
of Huntington Beach, she was stunned to find there was
no real local attraction in HB to relate it to being the
Surfing Capital of the World. In 1982, Natalie assisted
by Don Strout, began working on her museum project with
local developers. Five years later in 1987, the museum
opened on Walnut Street. Due to the downtown revitalization
project, the museum was moved to its present location
on Olive Avenue just two blocks up Main Street from PCH
and the pier.
Natalie's second vision is the "Ultimate Surfing
Museum." A museum that is large enough to proudly
display the collection that the museum has acquired along
with an Iwerks Theater, art gallery, tide pools and will
be visited by thousands of international guest.
Today, Natalie is still the cornerstone of the museum
getting involved in every aspect of the museum. Along
with her followers, the museum continues to "Preserve
Surfing and the Surfing Culture."
PHOTO: Natalie & Bruce Brown and Dead Men Can't Surf band.
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 PHOTO: Gordie Duane and Natalie in museum.
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