Site information:
San Lorenzo River mouth, viewpoint at the bend in E Cliff Dr., Santa Cruz.
36.9640, -122.0118OHP Description:
Three Princes' Surf Site is located at the San Lorenzo Rivermouth, a surf break in Santa Cruz. The break is formed by the confluence of the San Lorenzo River and the northern water’s edge and shoreline of Monterey Bay, bounded in part to the west by Santa Cruz Main Beach (City of Santa Cruz) and to the east by Seabright State Beach (California State Parks). The site was the original location that surfing, as practiced by Native Hawaiian peoples, standing erect on a wooden board, was introduced to the continental United States in July 1885. Surfing caught on amongst Americans in Santa Cruz and has become strongly associated with the city and region. Santa Cruz has been designated as one of the most unique surf locations in the world based in part on this history.
