Bruce Snake Gabrielson's Surf Art Gallery and Museum
Bruce Snake Gabrielson's Surf Art Gallery and Museum
Bruce Snake Gabrielson's Surf Art Gallery and Museum
4.9
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 2:00 PM
About
Recognized as a top cultural site by the Maryland Department of Tourism, this free museum contains several rare historical artifacts from the surfing world collected by surfing legend Bruce Gabrielson over a 60 year period. Displays include Dale Velzey's original 1950's templates and planer, an original Makaha Skateboard, the first day edition of the Duke Stamp from both Huntington Beach and Waikiki, signed posters from numerous surfing legends, a signed poster from the Wooden Year's exhibit opening at the International Surfing Museum, a set of Rick Griffin drawings, plus paintings and photos from artists and surf photographers from the East and West Coast. Several antique boards are also on display. The museum requires reservations and is located in the offices of the National Surf Schools and Instructors Association. During the summer months the museum is closed when the surf is good.
Duration: < 1 hour
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.9
33 reviews
Excellent
31
Very good
2
Average
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Scott S
2 contributions
Dec 2022 • Solo
If you want to learn about the history of surfing from an OG… someone that lived it, surfed it, and built it, you need to plan a stop to Bruce (Snake) Gabrielson’s museum. Bruce is THE MAN! Authenticity is tough to find these days. You’ll find it here.
Written December 26, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Vanessa C
Annapolis2 contributions
Jul 2020
Bruce Gabrielson is a living surfing legend. It is a unique experience to have Bruce deliver a personal tour of the museum, as he knows the personalities and backstories involved with every item. This is definitely worth your time!
Written August 6, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
John McC
Millersville, MD1 contribution
Jul 2020
I rode down from Crownsviile MD this past week to meet Bruce and his hard working surf apprentice, and what a great and inspiring time it was for myself; a great day in my life. The surf museum was fantastic. It has to be one the best collections of historic surfboards, skateboards , pop surf art , some 60's CA rock, and other surf memorabilia anyplace on earth, and I been to a few surf museums, but on top of that you got to meet a person who was right there in the early 60's and who helped bring surfing to the USA and world shaping and inspiring pop US icons like Beach Boys and surf fashion that's still going strong today. You're actuality talking to and interacting with a true living legend within surfing and our great USA culture from the 60's and 70's. In my life I met famous actors, athletes and rock legends, but down in Calvert County MD is the best I've met to date Mr Bruce! I can't say enough. With all the insanity that's happening in our country that visit made me realize that the USA produces the cream of the crop. We are still the best! It was well worth the trip! You should make plans and check it out and after stop around historic Chesapeake North beach for a fanatics day! Maybe get involved and take some surf lessons from Bruce and his team. I know I will :) I'll be back! :)
Written July 22, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Marc L
2 contributions
Apr 2022
Bruce took the time to personally guide us through his legendary surf journey. Much appreciated. Host was gracious and highly highly knowledgeable of all things surfing. Recommend for any beginner or expert who appreciates the history of the sport.
Written April 26, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ellen M
2 contributions
Jul 2022 • Friends
Loved hearing Bruce's stories first hand-what a great life he has led. Learned SO much. Didn't put him off that we hadn't called ahead and made reservations...an incredibly nice guy!
Written July 20, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
johnmarie1
Maryland4 contributions
Mar 2013 • Couples
We visited the Snake's museum on a cold, dreary day in early March and were instantly transported to sunny southern California. Bruce is so passionate about his sport, and we left with a great appreciation for the history of surfing and how far the sport has come. My husband and I are both scuba divers, so we're more familiar with life below the waves. Visiting Bruce exposed us to the joys of topside water sports!
Written March 21, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ncarper
2 contributions
A little hidden gem of a museum off the beaten path but well worth the visit. Its primarily set in the 60s when surf culture really began to pick up speed, each item is a personal treasure to the owner and curator Bruce "Snake" who is full of stories and is generous in sharing them. For anyone that is even remotely interested in surfing I highly recommend stopping in for a couple of hours!
Written November 11, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Michelle R
Charles Town, West Virginia, United States1 contribution
Sep 2012 • Business
Bruce "the Snake" Gabrielson's Surf Museum is a little treasure in the quaint Chesapeake Bay shore town. The museum is filled with surfing memorabilia, taking one back to the early days of surfing up to the present. I don't personally have so much knowledge on surfing, however, it was fascinating to see how it has evolved over the years-and to see where it had its start; I had no idea of how far back surfing's origins came from! Bruce has extensive knowledge on the history of surfing and each relic from his museum has a unique story-and there are lots of them! This museum is definitely a treasure to be discovered by surfers and non surfers alike; the fact is, I walked away with even more appreciation for the sport and with thoughts of: Wow, surfing would be so much fun to do! I have friends in NJ that surf, I am recommending that they make a little visit to Bruce's museum! Thank you Bruce for the tour! :)
Written September 15, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bzin1
Long Branch, NJ4 contributions
Dec 2012 • Business
I recently came down to Maryland from NJ for the NSSIA class for surf instructor accreditation. Bruce was great. He gave me a tour of his surf museum and surf shop. Some of the highlights were Dale "The Hawk" Velzy's shaping tools, a signed poster from Greg "Da Bull" Knoll's iconic photo from Pipeline, rare Duke photos, great surf art and one of a kind surfboards. I highly recommend stopping by if you are in the area to meet a living legend, learn about the history of surfing and check out some very cool interesting surf artifacts. I've been surfing for over 20 years and learned a ton of new information about surfing history. Great for surfers and non surfers alike. Thanks Bruce! Aloha
Written December 17, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
StandupandSurf
2 contributions
Dec 2012 • Friends
Today we left the inner of confines of the Washington Beltway to take a trip back to a time when surfing was just becoming a bona fide aspect of American Culture. To do so, however, did not entail a trip to Huntington Beach California aka "Surf City", but instead to the placid shores of Chesapeake Beach in Calvert County MD where Bruce "Snake" Gabrielson lives surrounded by his surfing memorabilia, a kennel full of dogs and a bunch of free roaming chickens. A protege of famed surfboard shaper Dale "The Hawk" Velzy who mentored many of the best shapers from the 60's, Snake was also a competitive surfer in the 60's and 70's. What a character. Bruce is steeped in surfing stories and is happy to show you his surfing memorabilia and art. His place is well worth a trip if you are in the neighborhood and you want to swap surf stories and see his collection. He also teaches surfing and stand-up paddle boarding and runs a nonprofit called the National Surf Schools and Instructors Association which provides standards for and certifies surfing and paddle board instructors.
Written December 15, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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