The Santa Barbara Maritime Museum is pleased to present the July offering of its Maritime Distinguished Speaker Series “Rincon Point and the California Dream” featuring Stephen Bates and Vince Burns, co-authors of the book Rincon Point. Bates and Burns will discuss Rincon Point’s history and transformation into the surfer’s haven and iconic beachfront it is today.
Rincon Point is a peninsula on the boundary between Santa Barbara and Ventura counties. Known for its exceptional surfing, Rincon has inspired music and movies from the Beach Boys to Gidget. Yet, Rincon’s legacy extends far beyond its legendary waves, encompassing centuries of conquest, displacement, economic upheaval, and environmental change.
The SBMM Maritime Distinguished Speaker Series is sponsored by Marie L Morrisroe.
Missed our last Maritime Distinguished Speaker Series? Watch our previous lectures.
About the Speakers
Vince Burns received his doctorate in history from the University of Wisconsin. After academia, he had a second career as a publisher, holding positions from editor to vice president at a variety of non-fiction print and digital companies. He’s reported on the outdoors, wildlife, and surf history for local newspapers and magazines. In 2022, he wrote Rincon Point with Stephen Bates, which is an illustrated history of the famous beach. The book is available locally and online; signed copies will be available for purchase at the lecture.
Stephen Bates is a professor of journalism at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. He is the author of five books. His articles have appeared in the Washington Post Magazine, the Atlantic, and American Heritage. Bates holds an A.B. and a J.D. from Harvard University.