Newport Beach Historical Society

The Newport Beach Historical Society (NBHS) 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. The Newport Beach Historical Society was formed by Bill Grundy in 1967, later lead by his son Gordon Grundy. It was incorporated as a non-profit 501(C)(3) corporation in December 2014.

View Historical Markers around the city. Guided tours are available upon request: info@newportbeachhistorical.org

Bill Grundy, founder of NBHS, worked with an active group of members to preserve the history of Newport Beach. Historical markers that have been placed throughout the city and informative dinner lectures have provided a platform for descendants and interested parties to appreciate our rich heritage.

The first priority for NBHS is to preserve the living past of Newport Beach. The newest program entitle, Project History, is designed to capture the real essence and spirit of Newport Beach. We invite everyone to share their tales, impressions, and memories of (old and new) Newport.

The second priority is to establish a repository of historical documents, photographs, films, and memorabilia. We must develop an advanced system to catalogue and preserve these materials. To achieve the goal of establishing a repository of historical documents, we have recently established a 501c3 designation for NBHS so that all donations will now be tax deductible.

For the first time in our 51 year history, a temporary small museum space has been donated and is located at the Balboa Peninsula Library. All staff members will be volunteers. We are asking the citizens of Newport Beach and other interested parties to assist us with this endeavor. We also seek a permanent location for our history collection and offices and are looking for a possible donor to provide this space. We are also working with Sherman Gardens in Corona del Mar to assist us in collecting items for our collection of Newport Beach historical items.