bruce "snake" gabrielson's surf art gallery and museum

This is an amazing collection of surfing history and memorabilia - to find it on the East Coast is even more amazing. From the first wetsuit to early surf boards, this museum has everything surfing you could imagine. The best part of the museum is talking with Bruce - the curator and surfing pioneer. He was there for some of the pivotal moments in surfing history and gladly shares the "insider scoop" with you. You can see how boards are shaped, view some of the legendary equipment, and hear about how it impacted our culture and people's lives. It's definitely a must visit for anyone interested in surfing or the beach. Bruce's passion about surfing takes this museum and collection to another level.

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!

I went there to visit and get surf tips but I was surprised at how much surf history was there. Bruce showed me around and educated me on how far back surf culture has impacted people's lives. It also helps that there are some super sick longboards to view as well. I encourage everyone to go and check it out for sure.

Bruce is the genuine article; a Huntington Beach transplant who was there for some of the pivotal moments in surf history. He has some rare and unique items in the collection, and can talk story with the best of them. This place is a gem, and if you have any interest in surf history - go here.

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

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.

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!

Had a chance to stop by Bruce's museun and found it very enjoyable. I grew up surfing in the same era as Bruce and had a lot of fun with the recollections prompted by some of the items contained in Bruce's collection. Everything is displayed nicely. I would encourage people to visit especially those wanting to learn more of surfing's history as Bruce can recount many things to go along with the many pictures and displays.

As an on and off Delmarva surfer since the mid-1960's, I was glad to meet Bruce and tour the surf shop and museum. He has photos and surfing items that span the history of surfing. Bruce took the time to describe the memorabilia and has many one-of-a-kind items. He also has some great surf art in various forms. The museum and Bruce's tour would be interesting to everyone while in the area.

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! :)

Snake Gabrielson's quaint little shop and museum at Chesapeake Beach caught me off gaurd.I've surfed mostly on the west coast but after talking to the snake became convinced I have been missing some hurricane nuggets here on our east coast. Snake is a wealth of knowledge and seems to love sharing his interests in the surf industry and local knowledge with you. Upon leaving his shop he even asked if I ever wanted to share a ride with him when a known swell was approaching he would accomodate. Not bad for someone you've only know for an hour. I look forward to visiting his shop many more times and would invite anyone who has a love for the ocean to do the same.

Bruce "Snake" Gabrielson has on display some true treasures of the surfing culture. Most amazing to me is his collection of templates and tools of master shaper and builder Dale Velzy. Bruce was Dale's last student and starting his own line of "Wave Trek" Surfboards, and Dale passed on his knowledge and the tools of the trade to Bruce. Most surfers have never thought about the specialized tools needed to produce surfboards. The exhibit features mementos, trophies and art focused on surfing. Many of us surfed in our youth and consider ourselves surfers, although we may not have surfed in decades. A trip to the museum will bring that all back. It did for me. He has kept the stoke alive and still surfs competitively.

This museum has a ton of surf memorabilia, photographs, and art from the beginning of surf popularity. The guy who owns it is really knowledgeable about surfing and builds boards as well.