visit newport beach unveils 120 years of welcome exhibit at balboa island museum

Apr 30

120 Years of Welcome: A Tourism Tribute

Visit Newport Beach is excited to announce the opening of the 120 Years of Welcome Museum Exhibit at the Balboa Island Museum in Newport Beach. Experience a richly layered journey through time, where Newport Beach's past comes into focus through the stories, places, and defining moments that shaped its legacy as a destination. The exhibit opened to the public on May 22nd and will remain on display through October 1, 2026.

Step inside and discover four immersive features celebrating 120 years of Newport Beach history through the lens of tourism. Explore a digital archive with interactive photos, maps, and timelines spanning from the city's incorporation in 1906 through 2026. Meet iconic local figures, including founder James McFadden and ferry owner Joseph Allen Beek, through a one-of-a-kind hologram experience, alongside Hollywood legend Shirley Temple, the first-ever "Miss Newport Beach." Walk past a sweeping newspaper mural tracing the city's rise as a coastal destination, and step aboard a replica of the beloved Pacific Electric Red Car, which once carried visitors from Pasadena and San Marino to the sun-soaked shores of the Balboa Peninsula.

A Curated History of Newport Beach Through the Lens of Tourism

Experience a richly layered journey through time, where Newport Beach’s past comes into focus through the stories, places, and defining moments that shaped its legacy as a destination.

The Tourism Archive of Newport Beach:
A richly layered, immersive touchscreen experience invites exploration through Newport Beach’s past—revealing the moments, places, and stories that shaped its evolution as a world-renowned coastal destination.

Voices of Newport Beach:
Experience living storytelling from the figures of the past and present—offering a rare first-person encounter with those who helped shape Newport Beach’s legacy.

Newspaper Mural:
Adorning the walls of the exhibit are hundreds of historical newspaper articles, advertisements, and tourism promotions chronicling the evolution of Newport Beach over 120 years of tourism, hospitality, events, and coastal life.

05/22/2026 - 10/01/2026
10:00 am - 5:00 pm

Location
Balboa Island Museum
210 B Marine Avenue
Balboa Island, CA 92662