May 2026

Centennial Mayor Don Webb and Mayor Lauren Kleiman reviewed the centennial book at the Fun Zone museum.

May is Preservation Month. Our society has been adding historic landmarks throughout the city for decades. One that was added on May 17, 1984 is of the Balboa Pavilion, our most valuable historic landmark of the City of Newport Beach. This year marks the 120th anniversary of opening of this iconic building along with our city's incorporation. We are honored to preserve this history for generations.

Look for the historic markers located throughout the city of Newport Beach! Explore local history from these plaques that identify local, state and national landmarks. Thank you to Don Webb, NBHS board member and former Centennial mayor for creating this history marker PDF available to view and download here. Learn more about this landmark pavilion and join us at our next dinner celebrating the history of our distinguished city.

Four Mayors Celebrate the Last 20 Years of Newport Beach History

By Christopher Trela May 10, 2026, Newport Beach Independent

Happy Birthday to Newport Beach!

Newport Beach has its 120th birthday in September 2026. The story of the city’s first 100 years has been told, but what about the last 20 years?

The Newport Beach Historical Society has the answer. The organization recruited four former mayors – Ed Selich, Nancy Gardner, Diane Dixon, and Joe Stapleton – to tell the tales of the past 20 years during a special event at the Harborside Banquet Room at the Balboa Pavilion on Wednesday, April 15.

The event was hosted by Don Webb, the 2006 Centennial Mayor and probably the only person to have walked every street in Newport Beach.

Read Article

The Art Deco Society of California honored The Lido Theater with its 2026 Preservation Award. Opened in 1939, our iconic theater was designed by Clifford A. Balch, an architect specializing in cinemas. The Lido Theater is an elegant late Art Deco structure, with its striking curved neon-enhanced marquee, stylized floral ornamented pilasters, and neon sign in French-influenced script. Happily preserved as a single-screen theatre, The Lido was beautifully restored by property owner Fritz Duda Company, with designer Margee Drews and project manager John Loper, who accepted the award at the recent Preservation Ball in San Francisco. Fritz Duda has also produced a documentary about the process, “Movies, Memories & Magic: The Lido Theater in Newport Beach.” 

Read Article

Nancy Gardner holds many titles – former mayor of Newport Beach, daughter of the late Judge Robert Gardner, and past Citizen of the Year. She recently released her debut novel, Here Comes the Judge. Join us for an evening discussing her new fiction book. Attend this program on Jun 25, 2026, 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM.

RSVP

As a member, you will be the first to receive an invitation to our exciting programs. You will be supporting a 501c3 non-profit. You can use "History25%" for a discount to our museum store. We have books, postcards, and NBHS fleece in a variety of colors.

Membership