The Balboa Island Museum

This panel features the Balboa Island Museum – Newport Beach, right here on Marine Avenue. It includes Newport Beach in its title, because its exhibits showcase much more than just Balboa Island. Founded in 2000, the mission of the museum is to preserve the history of this very special island, in addition to greater Newport Beach and Orange County. The current location at 210 Marine Avenue is a treat in itself. Built in 1927, the building is one of the first constructed on this commercial street. Originally built as a “Yacht Club Garage”, it housed boats, cars and even the first Island fire engine. A portion of this address was rented in the 1930s by Carl Rehnborg. He used the space for a lab to develop his Nutrilite Products.

The next five decades saw a series of Hardware Store owners, the Original Balboa Beach Company, and the very unique “Art for the Soul” gallery. This is the third location for the Balboa Island Museum, which opened here, with all new exhibits, in 2018. To learn more about the topics on this beautiful mural, visit the museum or their website at BalboaIslandMuseum.org.  The museum is open daily and is free of charge.