ArcaMax

The People's Creation Story that traditionally took four days to tell is featured in a 20-minute theater-style film, along with a majestic mural showing how the Kumeyaay people lived in clans in the four ecological zones of their local territory. You'll learn about the "knowledge keepers," elders who were scientists in their own right, tracking the sun, moon, stars and seasons, studying pigments and knowing how to time events such as the grunion run. The "We Are Still Here" exhibit showcases -- from the Kumeyaay people's perspective -- their historic timeline not found in history textbooks, from creation through to today -- a powerful example of BCCM's mission to educate.

At the California Surf Museum you can see "The History of Surfing Through Surf Boards," which includes boards of 1800s Hawaiian royalty to the first California life-saving boards. You'll learn the evolution of the surfboard craft from handcarved redwood and balsa longboards to foam and fiberglass shortboards. These caused a surfing revolution that allowed mass production to fill the pent-up demand of wannabe surfers when the first surf-culture movie, 1959's "Gidget" debuted, said Jim Kempton, CSM's executive director.

You'll learn how hydrodynamic design changed boards from the late '60s 12-foot longboards to today's 6-foot shortboards. A fascinating Permanent Science Exhibit shows how live data recording wave swell size and conditions is collected from National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association buoys, translating into the daily surf report.

More of a boogie board fan? The Morey Exhibit showcases boogie board inventor Tom Morey, whose creation lets millions who don't surf experience the thrill of riding waves.

"Then there's our Mona Lisa," Kempton says proudly. "The board pro surfer Bethany Hamilton was riding when she got bitten by a shark."

Seeing the dramatic teeth marks and missing board chunk is enough to make any wannabe surfer hang at the museum instead of hanging 10 riding San Diego's surf.

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WHEN YOU GO

Visions Museum of Textile Art, San Diego, California: www.vmota.org

Museum of Making Music, Carlsbad, California: www.museumofmakingmusic.org

Barona Cultural Center and Museum, Lakeside, California: www.baronamuseum.com

California Surf Museum, Oceanside, California: www.surfmuseum.org

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Nicola Bridges is a freelance writer. To read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

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