Magen Altice "Creating Community - The St. Augustine Surf Culture Museum"

Magen Altice – Creating Community - The St. Augustine Surf Culture Museum – November 11th

Bio

Magen B. Altice is a public historian and Executive Director of the St. Augustine Historical Society, a role she has held since 2016. In this capacity, she leads one of Florida’s oldest historical organizations, overseeing museum operations, historic preservation, collections, publications, and community engagement. Her work bridges scholarship and public history through exhibitions, lectures, and collaborative projects that highlight diverse community stories. Altice holds both a B.A. and an M.A. in History from the University of North Florida. She is also an adjunct instructor at Flagler College.

Talk Description

The St. Augustine Surf Culture Museum explores more than a century of surfing history in St. Augustine, highlighting the people, places, and stories that shaped one of the region’s most vibrant coastal subcultures. Located within the historic Oldest House Museum Complex, the museum brings together oral histories, photographs, artifacts, and personal narratives to document how surfing evolved in St. Augustine, from its early beginnings to its role in the community today.

Developed through extensive collaboration with the local surfing community, the museum emphasizes storytelling and shared memory as central interpretive tools. Interviews with surfers, community-driven contributions, and interactive elements create an engaging experience that celebrates both the sport and its cultural impact. By preserving these stories and making them accessible to the public, the St. Augustine Surf Culture Museum not only honors a unique aspect of regional history but also fosters a sense of pride and continuity within the community.