The names Tony Hawk, Rodney Mullen and Laura Thornhill will go down in skateboarding history. And on Saturday, their boards got their due in the National Museum of American History.
Tony Hawk takes a spin on his first skateboard, which his brother gave him in 1977 and he donated to the National Museum of American History on Saturday. (WTOP/Thomas Warren)
WTOP/Thomas Warren
Tony Hawk, left; his brother Steve; and the board Steve gave Tony in 1977. (WTOP/Thomas Warren)
WTOP/Thomas Warren
Tony Hawk takes a spin on his old board. (WTOP/Thomas Warren)
WTOP/Thomas Warren
The skateboarders who made donations to the National Museum of American History on Saturday. (WTOP/Thomas Warren)
WTOP/Thomas Warren
A 1965 board used by Patti McGee, the first professional female skateboarder. (WTOP/Thomas Warren)
WTOP/Thomas Warren
The helmet George Orton used to set the world skateboard speed record. (WTOP/Thomas Warren)
WTOP/Thomas Warren
Tony Hawk's first skateboard, which his brother Steve gave him in 1977. (WTOP/Thomas Warren)
WTOP/Thomas Warren
Tony Hawk on his old skateboard. (WTOP/Thomas Warren)
WTOP/Thomas Warren
Four boards that were donated to the Smithsonian: A Cindy Whitehead 2013 "Girl is not a 4 Letter Word" prototype board; A Mimi Knoop 2004 X-Games board; A Jack Smith 1976 Proline; and Laura Thornhill's 1976-1977 Logan Earth Ski Board: Laura Thornhill Model. (WTOP/Thomas Warren)
WASHINGTON – The names Tony Hawk, Rodney Mullen and Laura Thornhill will go down in skateboarding history. And on Saturday, their boards got their due in the National Museum of American History.
“We’re living examples of not listening to the haters,” Hawk said at the event. He gave the museum the now-faded, skinny, blue skateboard he started on in 1977 – but not before he did a couple of runs on it up and down the ramp set up outside the museum.
Skater Patti McGee, the first national women’s champion, gave the museum the board she used back in 1965. Today’s donations double the Smithsonian’s collection of boards.
Mullen was also named a Smithsonian fellow. To say he was stoked would be putting it mildly: “To see the generations, all these kids, it’s so humbling.”
Jackson Tankersley, 13, felt the same way after Mullen signed his board. “I read his biography, and he’s one of the greatest people, and it’s awesome to meet him.”
