The Balboa Island Museum is hosting a temporary exhibit on the history of The Irvine Ranch, which dates back to 1864 when Irish immigrant James Irvine acquired it to herd sheep. His son, James Irvine II, later diversified into farming, using innovative techniques to create one of California’s leading agricultural operations.
In the 1950s, Irvine Company resisted the urban sprawl encroaching on the 93,000-acre ranch with a bold plan: to master plan a new “city of intellect” – Irvine – around a new University of California campus, UC Irvine.
The Balboa Island Museum, at 210 B Marine Ave. on Balboa Island, is open 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Thursday and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday-Sunday. General admission is free. Learn more at balboaislandmuseum.org.
