This year marks America’s semiquincentennial, or to put it plainly, 250th anniversary. Anaheim’s local museum, the Muzeo, put together a small exhibit showing off the American pride we had back in 1976, when it was the bicentennial. As a lover of the kitsch that resulted from that, I was eager to check it out and get gussied up for our visit, and as it was even a bit chilly, I was able to wear a jacket that rarely sees the light of day! Another important anniversary, especially around Anaheim is that this year Vans turns 60. What few may realize is that Anaheim was the birthplace of Vans, holding a special place in skateboarding history, and the Muzeo presented a delightful exhibit showcasing the depth of skateboarding culture in Anaheim.

Much like today, America was embroiled in issues of division and crisis when it turned 200. Vietnam was over, but the veterans did not receive the welcome previous vets had received, protests and push for change for the gay community and women’s rights were occurring, along with an intense energy crisis and gas shortage. But despite all of that, we came together to celebrate the bicentennial. Patriotic design permeated everything, from clothing to souvenirs to linens, even furniture and more, and local residents provided a variety of items for visitors to check out.

As long time readers will know, the Fourth of July has been a tough holiday for me. From a long time the Fourth of July was my favorite holiday, but as America began to turn away from inclusive policies, I found little to celebrate. That is when I had to refocus how I look at the holiday. As American colonists became angry with how their government was treating them, especially with unfair representation, they sough to create a new country, and focused on the ideals to make a better place for themselves and their loved ones. While of course a great deal of the American population was left out in those initial policies, the idea that we could improve where we lived is what the American Revolution and the Declaration of Independence, and therefore the Fourth of July is about. So I choose to honor the day by celebrating what America can be, and look for ways to improve it, and continue to make it a place for all to be welcome.

The bicentennial exhibit takes up one of the smaller rooms at the Muzeo, with the larger gallery dedicated to the history of Vans and skateboarding culture in Anaheim.

While skateboarding may be a culture all its own today, it really starts in Hawaii with surfing, which eventually made its way to California beaches. Wanting to get the same feeling of surfing without getting soaked, surfers began putting roller skates on pieces of wood. By the late 1950s, legitimate skateboards were being mass produced and by 1964 it had invaded surf music with “Sidewalk Surfin'” by the iconic duo Jan and Dean.

One year prior to Van’s debut, Anaheim’s place in skateboarding history would be cemented, as it would play host to the first ever International Skateboard Championships at La Palma Stadium, which still stands today at La Palma Park. I loved that the Muzeo had clips from that event playing, and it was really neat to see how far skateboarding has come.

In 1966 skateboarders would find their perfect shoe thanks to one Anaheim business. Paul Van Doren, James Van Doren, Gordon Lee, and Serge D’Elia, created the Van Doren Rubber Company at the corner of Broadway and Atchison. Piggy-backing off of the first waffle sole developed by Nike (originally made using a real waffle maker) Vans created a different waffle sole, one that had far more grip than other shoes. Early on they even developed customization options, make it a highly personal shoe. While they didn’t intend to market to skateboarders, Vans soon realized that they were the ideal market.

By the 1970s, Vans and Anaheim was fully immersed in skateboard culture. Anaheim got its very own skatepark, the Concrete Wave, Vans was collaborating with pioneers of skateboarding for new designs, they were even sponsoring professional skateboarders, and in 1979 they hit the big screen when a pair was donned by Sean Penn in Fast Times at Ridgemont High.

Sometime in the 1980s the Concrete Wave closed, and today is apartment buildings, tucked in between Ball Road and the 5 freeway, right next to Disneyland. The original building that Vans started in still stands at 704 E Broadway, where it is now home to dsm-firmenrch, a health focused company.

Catch the Concrete Wave and the Spirit of ’76 through June 12, 2026 at the Muzeo, located at 241 S. Anaheim Boulevard in downtown Anaheim. For more information, including tickets, please visit the Muzeo’s website.

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