Balboa Pier was built in 1906 as part of an ambitious plan to transform the largely undeveloped Balboa Peninsula into a thriving seaside destination. Rather than constructing the pier solely for fishing, developers saw it as a centerpiece that would attract visitors, encourage tourism, and increase the value of nearby land.

More than a century later, the original vision has proven remarkably successful. Balboa Pier remains one of Newport Beach's most recognizable landmarks and continues to welcome millions of visitors every year.

Balboa Pier has been one of Newport Beach's defining landmarks for more than a century. Since opening in 1906, it has welcomed millions of visitors, fishermen, surfers, photographers, and local residents while helping transform the Balboa Peninsula into one of Southern California's best-known beach destinations.

The history of the pier is closely connected with the development of Newport Beach, the construction of the Balboa Pavilion, and the arrival of the famous Pacific Electric Red Cars that brought thousands of visitors to the coast during the early twentieth century.