The Balboa Island Museum is now the Newport Beach Museum Balboa Island, a rebrand its leaders say reflects a mission that has outgrown the island's shores.

Founder and board chair Shirley Pepys cut the ribbon on a new sign at 210 Marine Ave. on Thursday, Aug. 13, joined by Newport Beach Mayor Lauren Kleiman, board president John Conners, Cynthia Shafer and David Beek. The ceremony capped a decade of growth since the museum opened in 2014 as a small island history center.

"While our roots will always be on Balboa Island, our mission and impact have grown far beyond it," Pepys said at the event, reported by Stu News Newport. "This name change honors where we began while embracing the entire demographic we serve."

The museum now draws 90,000 visitors a year. One in four comes through afterschool programs, elementary classrooms or ESL courses.

History pamphlets headed to 23 classrooms

Alongside the name change, the museum announced an educational grant from the Exchange Club of Newport Harbor to create and distribute local history booklets to 23 third-grade classrooms across the Newport-Mesa Unified School District. Students will receive pamphlets on community history; teachers will get companion guides. Distribution begins with the 2026–2027 school year.

The Exchange Club gave the museum a $10,000 grant in 2021 for earlier programming, according to the Newport Beach Independent. The dollar amount of the new grant has not been disclosed.

Marine mammal exhibition, Ben Carlson donation

The museum is also launching a hands-on exhibition with the Pacific Marine Mammal Center, the only stranding center in Orange County authorized to rescue sea lions, seals, dolphins, whales and sea turtles. No opening date has been announced.

And the institution will donate $500 to the Ben Carlson Foundation, which promotes ocean safety and youth education in memory of Newport Beach lifeguard Ben Carlson, who died making a rescue on July 6, 2014, at age 32.

Building turns 100 next year

Pepys said the broader name should open new grant and fundraising channels as the museum pursues a long-term goal: purchasing the historic building it occupies, which turns 100 in 2027.

Among those celebrating Aug. 13 was Balboa Island resident and historian John Scudder, grandson of snack-food pioneer Laura Scudder, who produced a documentary about her legacy.

The museum offers free admission seven days a week. Hours are Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Friday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. More information is at nbmuseum.org.