Birth of an Endless Summer

Celebrate the spirit of surf culture with a special screening of Birth of the Endless Summer: Discovery of Cape St. Francis inside the historic courthouse. Presented in conjunction with the opening week of our new summer exhibition Surfing Florida: A Photographic History, this cinematic evening explores the origins of one of surfing’s most iconic stories.

Directed by Richard Yelland, the documentary tells the untold story behind the legendary surf film The Endless Summer. The film follows pioneering surfer Dick Metz as he embarks on a globe-trotting adventure from 1958 to 1961, hitchhiking, train-jumping, and traveling by steamship across the world’s coastlines. His journey ultimately leads to the discovery of what would become known as the “perfect wave” at Cape St. Francis, South Africa—a moment that inspired the creation of the original surf classic and helped shape modern surf culture.
Featuring rare archival photographs and historic surfing imagery, the film retraces Metz’s remarkable travels decades later, offering a unique look at how one adventurous journey sparked a global surfing phenomenon.

Set against the grand backdrop of the courthouse, this special screening invites audiences to dive deeper into the history, adventure, and enduring mythology of surfing—perfectly complementing the exhibition’s exploration of Florida’s own surf heritage.