Grand Canal courtesy Balboa Island Historical Society
Grand Canal courtesy Balboa Island Historical Society

Throwback: The Grand Canal

Do you know the cool story about how Balboa Island got the Grand Canal?
What do you think? Would you prefer Collin’s vision, or the way it is today?

The story might be cooler than the canal itself!
An excerpt from the book “Newport Beach’s Balboa and Balboa Island by Jeff Delaney:

“The Grand Canal between Balboa Island and the Little Island is 1,500 feet long and 100 feet wide.  It was originally meant to be Moonstone Avenue, but W.S. Collins wanted to create a Monte Carlo-like resort on the Little Island with gondoliers transporting visitors across the Grand Canal.  Concerned harbor boosters stopped Collin’s resort idea, resulting in the island’s current configuration (photo courtesy of Balboa Island Historical Society)”

 

Grand Canal courtesy Balboa Historic Society
Grand Canal courtesy Balboa Historic Society
Grand Canal in the 1920s by Tom Stillwell
Grand Canal in the 1920s by Tom Stillwell
Grand Canal by Tom Stillwell
Grand Canal by Tom Stillwell

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About Mike Glenn

Mike is the founder and publisher of Save Newport and Chair of Government Relations for the Elks Lodge. He writes, shoots photos, and edits, but much of the time, he's just "the IT guy". He can be reached at: Google+, Facebook, or via email, at michael.glenn@devion.com