Newport Beach Historical Society

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Newport Beach Historical Society

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The Newport Beach Historical Society was formed in 1967 to preserve, promote, document and enjoy the history of Newport Beach, California.

OUR MISSION

THE NEWPORT BEACH HISTORICAL SOCIETY CONNECTS PEOPLE – PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE – BY COLLECTING, INSPIRING, EDUCATING, PRESERVING AND PROTECTING THE UNIQUE AND VIBRANT HISTORY OF THE CITY OF NEWPORT BEACH. INCLUDING: BALBOA, CORONA DEL MAR, NEWPORT HARBOR, ITS ISLANDS AND OFFSHORE, THE BACK BAY, NEWPORT COAST AND NEWPORT MESA.

10/30/2026

Long before modern fire engines, police cruisers, and rescue boats, Newport Beach relied on a small group of dedicated individuals to keep its growing community safe.

When the city incorporated in 1906, law enforcement operated out of a former schoolhouse near Newport Pier, complete with two jail cells in the basement. Following a destructive fire in 1910, the city officially established its volunteer fire department in 1911, equipped with little more than hose reels and determination.

By 1923, the dangers of Newport’s powerful surf led to the creation of an official lifeguard service, whose early rescuers relied on wooden boats and remarkable courage to save lives.

As Newport Beach celebrates its 120th anniversary, we recognize the generations of police officers, firefighters, and lifeguards who have protected our community and helped shape the city we know today.

Do you have memories or photographs of Newport Beach’s first responders? We’d love to hear your stories!

09/12/2026

Our 120th Anniversary Dinner & Dance at the historic Balboa Pavilion was a wonderful evening celebrating Newport Beach, its history, and the community that makes it special. From dinner at Harborside to an evening of music and dancing with Atomic Ballroom and Jonathan Stout and His Campus Five, it was a night to remember.

We were honored to receive a Proclamation from Mayor Lauren Kleiman recognizing the Newport Beach Historical Society and our commitment to preserving, sharing, and celebrating the history of our community.

We are also grateful to Assembly member Diane Dixon’s office for presenting the Society with a Certificate of Recognition honoring the 120th anniversary of the incorporation of Newport Beach.

Thank you to our city leaders, members, volunteers, sponsors, supporters, and everyone who joined us in celebrating this important milestone. Evenings like this are a reminder that history is not only about looking back, but also about bringing our community together and creating memories that become part of Newport Beach’s story.

120 years of history. One remarkable community.

A special thank you to The Fun Zone and Theodore Robins Ford for being our corporate sponsors. Photographs by .images.

08/25/2026

Join the Newport Beach Historical Society this Thursday, August 27, at the historic Balboa Pavilion as we celebrate 120 years of Newport Beach!

Enjoy dinner at the Harborside Restaurant, then hit the dance floor with Atomic Ballroom and Jonathan Stout and His Campus Five, the group behind the Guinness World Record for the World’s Largest Swing Dance Lesson right here in Newport Beach. The evening will be emceed by Newport Beach Historian Laureate Bill Lobdell.

🎟️ Tickets are selling quickly, and we don’t want you to miss out! Make sure to grab your tickets now before we sell out.

📅 Thursday, August 27, 2026
🕕 6:00–11:00 PM
📍 Balboa Pavilion, 400 Main St., Newport Beach
🚪 Doors open at 5:30 PM

Dinner & Dance: $65 members | $80 non-members
Dance Only: $25

Come celebrate 120 years of Newport Beach history with us! 🥂💃

08/07/2026

As Newport Beach marks its 120th anniversary, we are reflecting on some of the restaurants that have become enduring landmarks in the city's history.
For more than a century, the Stag Bar has stood at McFadden Square, serving fishermen, visitors, and generations of locals since 1908. Few establishments have witnessed as much of Newport Beach's history as this enduring Peninsula landmark.

The Cannery tells another chapter of Newport Beach's story. The building began as the city's first commercial fish cannery in 1921, when Newport Harbor was home to a thriving fishing industry. As the waterfront evolved, the cannery was transformed into a restaurant, preserving a tangible link to the city's maritime heritage while remaining one of Newport's most recognizable waterfront landmarks.

On Balboa Island, the Village Inn has welcomed residents and visitors since 1933, becoming a familiar gathering place where neighbors have shared meals, celebrations, and stories for generations.

Since 1951, The Crab Cooker has reflected Newport Beach's enduring connection to the sea. Founded by Bob Roubian, its simple approach to serving the freshest seafood made it a local institution and a destination known well beyond Orange County.

In Corona del Mar, the building once known as the Hurley Bell found new life in 1965 as Five Crowns, preserving one of Newport Beach's most distinctive historic structures while becoming the setting for countless anniversaries, family celebrations, and holiday traditions.

These photographs preserve more than familiar buildings. They capture the places where everyday life unfolded and where generations of Newport Beach residents created memories that are now part of our city's shared history.

Do you visit any of these Newport Beach landmarks? We'd love to hear your stories in the comments.

07/12/2026

Love local history? Become a Volunteer at the Newport Beach Historical Museum!

Join our team at our museum located at the Balboa Fun Zone and help preserve and share Newport Beach’s rich history with visitors from near and far. Our museum showcases fascinating artifacts, photographs, and stories that bring the community’s past to life.

As a volunteer, you’ll have the opportunity to:
✨ Welcome and engage with museum guests
✨ Share stories about Newport Beach’s unique heritage
✨ Support exhibits and special events
✨ Make a meaningful impact in your community

Whether you’re a history enthusiast, student, retiree, or simply looking for a rewarding volunteer experience, we’d love to have you join us!

Interested? Send us a message or email: [email protected]

06/10/2026

Join us for a special evening with former Newport Beach Mayor, Citizen of the Year, and newly published author Nancy Gardner!

Hear stories of growing up in Newport Beach during the 1950s and 1960s, learn about her debut novel Here Comes the Judge, and enjoy an engaging Q&A with one of Newport Beach's most beloved community leaders.

📅 June 25, 2026
🕡 6:30 PM (Doors open at 6:00 PM)
📍 OASIS Senior Center
☕ Coffee & desserts served
🎟 Free for NBHS members | $10 non-members

Reserve your seat today at: newportbeachhistorical.org/events

05/29/2026

For more than a century, fishing has been woven into the story of Newport Beach. From the early commercial fishermen working off McFadden Wharf to generations of anglers launching from Newport Harbor into the rich offshore waters of Catalina and beyond, the harbor has always been a gateway to life on the sea.

As Newport Beach celebrates its 120th anniversary as a city, we honor the charter captains, sportfishing landings, and angling clubs that helped shape our coastal identity. Fishing wasn’t just recreation here, it built community, supported local families, and connected generations to the harbor and Pacific Ocean.

From dawn departures in the harbor to stories shared at the docks, the tradition continues today as part of Newport Beach’s living maritime heritage.

05/27/2026

Memorial Day weekend has passed, but the stories and memories it brings up are still very much alive here in Newport Beach.

This animated photo from the 1950s captures a classic moment from our harbor era, when Newport was still growing into the coastal city we know today.

Take a closer look… do you recognize this spot?

Maybe it’s a dock you’ve walked, a harbor view you’ve seen in old family photos, or a stretch of coastline that still looks familiar today.

Share your memories, tag the location, and let’s see how many people can pinpoint exactly where in Newport Beach this was taken.

04/07/2026

Join the Newport Beach Historical Society for a special evening, The Story of the Last 20 Years of Newport Beach by Its Mayors, on Wednesday, April 15th at the iconic Balboa Pavilion.

As Newport Beach approaches its 120th anniversary, this event brings together former mayors Ed Selich, Nancy Gardner, Diane Dixon, and Joe Stapleton, moderated by Centennial Mayor Don Webb, for a rare look behind the scenes of the decisions, challenges, and milestones that shaped the city we know today.

Enjoy an evening of history, conversation, and community, with a live Q&A and dinner to follow.

Doors open at 5:30 PM
Dinner begins at 6:30 PM
Tickets available now:

https://www.newportbeachhistorical.org/events-1/the-story-of-the-last-20-years-of-newport-beach-by-its-mayors

Be part of the story, past, present, and future.

04/03/2026

Before it became one of Newport Beach’s most tucked-away gems, Pirate’s Cove lived many lives.

In the 1920s, this rugged stretch of coastline doubled as Hollywood’s imagination. Silent film crews transformed the cliffs and coves into swashbuckling worlds, complete with full-scale pirate ships, earning the cove its legendary name.

Just steps away, the Sparr’s Bathhouse, opened in 1925, brought early beach culture to life, offering rented wool swimsuits, showers, and even childcare. It was an early glimpse into the leisure lifestyle Newport Beach would become known for.

Decades later, the cove took on a different kind of significance.

In the late 1960s and 70s, large gatherings were held along the shoreline, where thousands came together for ocean baptisms and shared moments of reflection and community.
That tradition continues today, with the cove still serving as a place where people gather for meaningful experiences by the water.

Today, visitors make their way down from Lookout Point to discover the same dramatic cliffs, calm waters, and hidden caves that have drawn people here for generations.

From silent film sets, to community gatherings, to everyday beach days,
Pirate’s Cove remains one of Newport Beach’s most storied shores.

Next time you’re there, take a moment.
You’re standing in the middle of a century of stories.

Address

Balboa Fun Zone 600 E Bay Avenue
Newport Beach, CA
92661

Telephone

+19496750501

Website

http://www.newportbeachhistorical.org/

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