Huntington State Beach is a protected two-mile shoreline in Huntington Beach that opened as a California state beach in 1942 and became one of Southern California’s best-known recreation areas for surfing, fishing, and other beach activities. Its south-facing shore, river jetties, and shifting sandbars create both excellent surf and dangerous rip currents, making year-round lifeguard service essential. The beach also became a major center in the history of California’s state lifeguard system, beginning in 1950 under Robert Isenor. Along with its recreational and safety role, its southern end includes protected nesting habitat for the endangered California least tern and the threatened snowy plover.