McFadden Square Centennial Monument - Newport Beach, C
N 33° 36.476 W 117° 55.729
11S E 413832 N 3719072
This plaza is a labyrinth, centennial monument, and a historical walking tour all in one.
Waymark Code: WMR9ZZ
Location: California, United States
Date Posted: 05/29/2016
Views: 3
Newport Beach celebrated its centennial in 2006 and thus, the City decided to create a centennial monument to celebrate its heritage from the past 100 years. This monument was created by Newport Beach-based landscape architectural design firm Peridian International, in collaboration with the City Arts Commission. The firm centered their design around a labyrinth, including a walking path which traces the 100-year history of Newport Beach with markers of significant events surrounded by benches. The focal point of the project is a bronze sphere sculpture depicting natural scenes of the community, commemorating the heritage of Newport Beach, and recognizing Centennial sponsors and community donors. Mcfadden Square is named after the McFadden Brothers, Jams and Robert, who in 1875, decided to start a shipping business here and built McFadden Wharf, which was later renamed Newport Pier. The McFadden brothers are credited with developing Newport Beach in the late 1800s and early 1900s and established this area by putting it on the map.
The history path/labyrinth contains many pavers etched with notable dates of interest in the past 100 years of Newport Beach. Here they are in their entirety:
1870 - Captain Samual Dunnells sails into bay, establishing a "new port"
1875-1888 - McFadden brothers ship from Newport Landing
1888 - McFadden's wharf completed
1891 - Santa Ana and Newport Railroad begins service
1892 - McFaddens receive title to over half of the peninsula
1894 - First Grammar School opens with 18 students
1899 - Southern Pacific acquires Santa Ana and Newport Railroad
1905 - Balboa Pavilion completed. Pacific Electric Red cars reach Newport Beach
1906 - September 1st City of Newport Beach Incorporated. Newport Beach Population - 265
1907 - West Newport canals dredged, creating Newport Island. Newport News becomes City's first newspaper. Harbor Roosters formed. First name for Chamber of Commerce
1909 - Balboa Island Ferry begins service. First Tournament of Lights
1910 - Newport Beach Population - 445
1912 - Glenn Martin flies from Newport Bay to Catalina, setting longest over-water record
1913 - First Balboa Theater opens
1914-1915 - Santa Ana River flood inundates Newport Bay with mud, silt and debris
1916 - Balboa Island annexed to City
1917 - Movie "Cleopatra" filmed in Newport Harbor. First Yacht Club Launched
1919 - City of Newport beach receives title to tidelands
1920 - Newport Beach Population - 894
1920-1921 - City and County jointly complete jetty, channel, dam and river projects
1921 - Balboa Pier constructed. Newport Fish Cannery opens. City dedicates first library.
1922 - Southern California Yachting Association holds first regatta in Newport Bay. Arches Service Station and Cafe opens. Duke Kahanamoku brings surfing to Newport Beach
1923 - City of Newport Beach annexes Corona del Mar. Life Savings Corps organizes. The Eddie Martin Airport opens (Orange County Airport)
1924 - American Legion founds Post 291
1925 - 1st Highway Bridge over Upper Newport Bay opens
1928 - Block-long Rendezvous Ballroom opens in Balboa. Transpac Yacht Race to Hawaii starts from Newport Beach. Newport hosts Star Worlds Sailing Championship. Douglas Fairbanks and Mary Pickford open Coast Highway to Laguna Beach. Movie "All Quiet on the Western Front" is filmed in Corona del Mar
1930 - Newport Harbor High School opens. Newport Beach Population - 2,203
1933 - Long Beach earthquake damages buildings in Newport Beach. South Coast Boat Building Company opens
1934 - The Irvine Company establishes Salt Works
1936 - Franklin D. Roosevelt dedicates Newport Harbor improvements by telegraph. Fun Zone opens in Balboa
1939 - Newport and Balboa piers destroyed in storm and rebuilt in 1 year
1940 - Newport Beach Population - 4,438
1941 - Bayshores is first Irvine Company residential development in Newport
1943 - Harbor Island annexed
1945 - Corona del Mar Elementary School opens
1947 - James Irvine dies at 80
1948 - First Newport-Ensenada Yacht Race
1949 - Horace Ensign Middle School opens. Snow falls in Newport Beach and Orange County
1950 - Newport Beach Population - 12,120
1951 - Orange Coast YMCA organized
1952 - Hoag Hospital opens
1953 - Boy Scout Jamboree held at Irvine Ranch
1955 - City Charter becomes effective
1956 - Newport Beach Population - 19,500. City celebrates Golden Jubilee
1957 - Artist Rex Brandt creates new official City Seal
1958 - Hughes and Aeronautics plants open. Dunes Aquatic Park at Newport Dunes opens
1960 - Newport Beach Population - 26,561. Dunes Aquatic Park at Newport Dunes opens (error on marker, should have read First Newport Beach high-rise building is built)
1961 - Newport Harbor Art Museum opens at Balboa Pavilion
1962 - Corona del Mar High School opens
1963 - Official Newport Beach City flag adopted, designed by 11-year-old Jeff Wilcox
1965 - A.J. McFadden places historical marker at Mcfadden Newport Pier. UCI opens with 1,600 students
1966 - Rendezvous Ballroom burns and is demolished
1967 - Fashion Island opens
1969 - Western Salt Works in Back Bay demolished by flood
1970 - Intrepid, with local skipper Bill Ficker, win's America's Cup. Newport Beach Population - 49,442
1971 - Newport voters reject Coastal freeway through City
1975 - Upper Bay becomes a marine preserve and wildlife refuge
1977 - Newport harbor Art Museum moves into Newport Center
1979- Orange County Airport is renamed in John Wayne's honor
1980 - Newport Beach Population - 62,556
1981 - City's 75th Anniversary celebrated
1985 - Airport curfews and flight limits established
1990 - Newport Beach Population - 66,643
1991 - Dory Fishing Fleet centennial celebration
1994 - The Newport Beach Central Library opens at Newport Center
1996 - Newport Beach celebrates Film Festival Inaugural
2000 - Newport Beach Population - 75,662
2002 - Newport Coast and Santa Ana Heights annexed
2005 - Newport Harbor Nautical Museum purchases Fun Zone
2006 - Newport Beach celebrates its Centennial. Newport Beach Population - 83,361. Newport Beach Rose Parade float wins 2nd place trophy. Back Bay Science Center built on Shellmaker Island
-------------------------------------------------------