The Palm Court Arts Complex is home to the Great Park Gallery and the Great Park Studio. The Palm Court’s re-purposed military structures now form a cultural campus supporting the development of a fresh approach to establishing an interdisciplinary, public arts program.
Learn more about exhibitions at the Irvine Fine Arts Center here.
Learn more about exhibitions at City Hall here.
Thursdays & Fridays: Noon–4 p.m.
Saturdays & Sundays: 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
Free Admission
Journey Through the Maze: 45 Years of PAC-MAN
May 18–September 28
Opening Reception Sunday, May 18, 1–3 p.m.
The 1980s witnessed a rapid growth in gaming captivating audiences around the world. Immerse yourself in the nostalgic and iconic world of PAC-MAN as you discover the history, evolution, and cultural impact of this legendary video game. Engage with interactive displays showcasing original arcade cabinets, rare memorabilia, and behind-the-scenes insights into the game’s development. Journey Through the Maze: 45 Years of PAC-MAN celebrates the enduring legacy of PAC-MAN and its role in shaping the gaming industry and culture at large.
The Great Park Studio is a creative flex space that offers camps and classes, special events, and private rentals. Studio camps and classes cover educational topics such as chess, engineering, science, and more. All current camps and classes can be viewed at yourirvine.org, or browse the current digital edition of Inside Irvine. Special events include enhancement activities that compliment Great Park Gallery exhibitions. Information regarding private rentals at the Studio and Great Park can be viewed here.
Thursdays & Fridays: Noon–4 p.m.
Saturdays & Sundays: 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
Free Admission
*Great Park’s Hangar 244 is subject to closures due to private event rentals and/or larger city-wide events. For building closure status, please call 949-724-6599.
March 16, 10 a.m.–3 p.m.
Explore the idea of home through the lens of Orange County’s Vietnamese community as we mark 50 years since the Fall of Saigon. In From Saigon to Little Saigon: Reflections on 50 Years of Home, you are invited to discover cherished stories, traditions, and memories through collections from libraries, museums, and community organizations.
The Orange County Archives Bazaar is Sunday, March 16 from 10 a.m.–3 p.m., and features exhibitions, presentations, and activities for all ages. This free event, presented by OC Archives in Action in collaboration with Anaheim Public Library, CSUF Pollak Library, and UCI Libraries, supports the Great Park Gallery’s exhibition More Than You Can Chew. No registration required.
In 1993, Marine Corps Air Station, El Toro was designated for closing by the Base Realignment and Closure Commission and all of its activities were to be transferred to Marine Corps Air Station Miramar. The station officially closed on July 2, 1999.
Since 2002, the Legacy Project has documented the transformation of the former Marine Corps Air Station, El Toro into the Orange County Great Park. They have created more than 200,000 images and famously turned a giant jet hangar into the world’s largest camera and used it to take the world’s largest picture.
These photos capture the Flying Bull insignia around the military base and its buildings.
A Guide to Marine Corps Air Station, El Toro is a documentary about the history of the region.
This 9-minute archive will take you on a retrospective journey from the early days of the Irvine family’s prodigious ranching and agricultural projects, to the coming of World War II and the subsequent arrival of Marine Corps Air Station, El Toro.
The film screens every 20 minutes in the History Room hallway of Hangar 244.
The Flying Bull
In 1943 Walt Disney designed the El Toro Flying Bull logo for Marine Corps Air Station El Toro. Walt Disney Productions created approximately 1,200 designs during World War II for both American and Allied military units. In 1993, Marine Corps Air Station El Toro was designated for closing by the Base Realignment and Closure Commission and all of its activities were to be transferred to Marine Corps Air Station Miramar. The station officially closed on July 2, 1999. These photos, captured by the Legacy Project, document the Flying Bull insignia in various locations of MCAS El Toro.
Opening El Toro
Construction of Marine Corps Air Station El Toro began on August 3, 1942 on land previously owned by the Irvine Company. The runways and taxiways were completed by December 1, 1942 and all squadron hangars were complete by January 15, 1943. These photos, taken by Bob Blankman, a history archivist and member of the first unit stationed at El Toro, capture the building of the base.
Coordinates
Since 2002, the Legacy Project has documented the transformation of the former Marine Corps Air Station El Toro into the Orange County Great Park. They have created over 200,000 images and famously turned a giant jet hangar into the world’s largest camera and used it to take the world’s largest picture. This photography collection showcases 18 former MCAS El Toro buildings and sites, accompanied by a large-scale historic map of the base highlighting the coordinates and building numbers represented in each photo. The Legacy Project is comprised of artists Mark Chamberlain, Clayton Spada, Jacques Garnier, Robert Johnson, and Douglas McCulloh.
Life on the Base: MCAS El Toro
The day to day for El Toro service members included the expected activities of life on a military base, however their free time and recreational activities were fun, diverse and similar to Great Park visitors today. The images on display, courtesy of the First American OC Historical Photo Archive and the Flying Leatherneck Aviation Museum, capture life in the early days of MCAS El Toro. Originally exhibited in the 2023 Great Park Gallery exhibition Life on the Base: MCAS El Toro curated by Cynthia Castaneda.
Pilot Maker: Planes from MCAS El Toro
On display in and around Hangar 244 are two World War II era training planes––a N3N-3 Canary and a SNJ-5 Texan. Both aircraft were used as training planes for service members of MCAS El Toro, while the Texan was used for military operations during World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, as well as in numerous other conflicts around the world.
