The First Duckpin Museum is in California?

A new museum featuring the history of duckpin bowling in the town recently opened in the California beach community of Santa Cruz. Yes, Santa Cruz, California.

Ironic how the California town of Santa Cruz has a duckpin museum and active duckpin areas like Maryland, Connecticut, and Rhode Island do not. How about it National Duckpin Bowling Congress?

Bowling has a long history in the Santa Cruz beach area. Santa Cruz Seaside Company archives document a 4-lane “duckpin” alley along the Boardwalk in 1909 operated by Victor A. Marini.”

Credit: Focus on Travel News

Catalina Island ducks? Why not?

The Three Palms Arcade on Catalina Island has four lanes of mini-duckpin bowling for their guests. String pinsetters with slightly thinner pins sit at the end of short lanes (about 30 feet) and formal approaches. From the photos its obvious bowling shoes are not required.

The arcade even offers leagues and from the schedule on their website, seem to do a decent little business with that. Next time you visit sunny California, head out to the island for a bit and wander by to take a gander at the lanes.

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