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Showcasing the birth of skateboard culture

Long before Vans became a global icon, it started right here in Anaheim.

In 1966, Paul Van Doren, James Van Doren, Gordon Lee and Serge D’Elia opened a small shoe factory at 704 E. Broadway.

They had no way of knowing their grippy, waffle-soled sneakers would become a symbol of skateboarding, youth culture and creative rebellion around the world.

Now, Anaheim residents can explore that story and more at "Concrete Wave: Vans at 60 and the Birth of Anaheim Skateboard Culture," an exhibition at Muzeo Museum and Cultural Center celebrating Vans’ 60th anniversary and Anaheim’s role in shaping modern skateboarding.

The exhibit runs through July 12 in Muzeo’s Main Gallery at 241 S. Anaheim Blvd.

The displays tell the story of how innovation in Anaheim helped ripple across the globe.

Through rare artifacts, vintage shoes, legendary skateboard decks, items from Anaheim skate parks and photos, visitors can see how local design, manufacturing, creative communities and support for unconventional ideas helped fuel a movement.

Guest curator Craig Stecyk III brings a legendary voice to the exhibition. An artist, writer, photographer and cultural documentarian, Stecyk helped shape how the world saw skateboarding through his photography and writing on Southern California's Dogtown and Z-Boys skating era.

For Anaheim, "Concrete Wave" is a celebration of the creativity, grit and community spirit that have long been part of the city’s identity.

From a small downtown factory to skate parks across our city, Anaheim’s influence on skate culture continues to be felt across generations.

In 1966, our city played host to the National Skateboard Championships held at La Palma Park and aired on ABC’s “Wide World of Sports” in the first broadcast of a skateboarding competition.

In the 1970s, a playground moonscape of concrete craters and stalagmites opened at Brookhurst Park and became an impromptu skate spot still fondly remembered by many in our city. 

Residents are invited to visit Muzeo, experience the exhibition and discover how a local story helped launch a global cultural movement.

The exhibition is made possible through the generous support of Vans, the Skateboarding Hall of Fame and a commitment to honoring Anaheim’s creative legacy and ensuring these stories are shared with future generations.

All things Anaheim: State of the City

Anaheim's 2026 State of the City was a celebration of our city's incredible past and exciting future.

Mayor Ashleigh Aitken took the stage at the Grove of Anaheim on April 29 and highlighted storied moments in our city's history, including the birth of Doritos at Disneyland!

In honor of America’s 250th anniversary, we revisited Anaheim’s 1857 founding and its connection to our nation’s milestones, including hosting the American Freedom Train in 1976 for the country’s bicentennial.

Charles Phoenix, an ambassador of Americana, pop culture and all things Anaheim, joined to celebrate our city's storied history, including the debut of Angel Stadium of Anaheim 60 years ago, local favorite Linbrook Bowl and vintage Disneyland.

Disneyland’s recently appointed president, Jill Estorino, introduced herself to the community and announced a special ticket offer of $71 for Disneyland tickets for Anaheim residents. Watch for tickets to go on sale in coming weeks.

It was all for a great cause, helping raise more than $50,000 for the nonprofit Anaheim Community Foundation for kids, families, seniors and others in our community.

We want to thank everyone who joined us and give a special shoutout to this year’s emcee Ally Kay as well as national anthem singer Tim Kepler, both of the Anaheim Ducks, who are enjoying their best season in years and are in the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Watch our video of this entertaining and engaging community event at Anaheim.net/StateoftheCity.

Water Awareness event

Anaheim Public Utilities, our city's not-for-profit provider of water and power, celebrates May as Water Awareness Month.

It's a great time to learn more about the value of water and sustainability.

Join us at Center Greens on Tuesday, May 19, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. for a free community event.

Learn more about how water gets to our homes, potential ways to save on your utility bill, plant your own succulent and more!

This is one of the many educational programs and community activities that highlight the small changes that can make a big difference in conserving water, an essential resource.

Being waterwise helps protect our environment while also reducing our household water use and lowering our monthly bills.

Find more information here.

Save the date: June Community Open Houses

Our next round of Community Open Houses across all six Anaheim City Council districts is coming up in June.

This marks the third round of our new format for district community meetings, which have been well received.

We start with District 1 on June 3 and work our way through to District 6 on June 18.

Residents can drop in anytime at their convenience from 5 to 7 p.m. and engage on the subjects they are interested in.

It is an open house setting with city departments and staff to speak to one-on-one.

We are honing our focus for each meeting now, with Beach Boulevard, fireworks, public safety and more expected.

We’re sharing details now so residents can mark their calendars and join us.

You can see more here.