Laguna Beach Historical Society

About Laguna Beach Historical Society

The Laguna Beach Historical Society operates from the Murphy Smith Bungalow, a historic cottage built around 1923 and listed in the City of Laguna Beach Historic Register. Volunteer docents guide visitors through displays of memorabilia housed in the restored home. The bungalow features distinctive architecture including a box plan, multi-gabled roof, clapboard siding, and wide wood posts supporting the porch gable. French doors open from the main entrance onto the bedroom. The property tells the story of its residents, beginning with the Vernon Murphy family and later Blanche Clapp Smith, who lived there until 1991 at age 89. During World War II, one bedroom was rented to service personnel and their wives. The society hosts special events featuring historical figures connected to Laguna Beach, including actresses, aviators, and artists who shaped the community's cultural heritage.