Identifier	clloy_143
Title	Avalon, Santa Catalina Island, Cal.
Creator	Unknown
Date Published	circa 1908
Subject (Topic)	Ocean travel--California--Santa Catalina Island; Bays--California--Santa Catalina Island; Seaside resorts--California--Santa Catalina Island;
Subject (Place)	Santa Catalina Island (Calif.); Avalon (Calif.);
Type	image
Form/Genre	Postcards
Physical Description	1 postcard : Color ; 9 x 14 cm.
Institution	Department of Archives and Special Collections, William H. Hannon Library, Loyola Marymount University
Country of Creation	DE
Copyright Status	public domain
Copyright Statement	http://library.lmu.edu/collections/digitallibraryprogram/copyrightandreproductionpolicy/
Publisher	M. Reider
Place of Publication	Los Angeles, Cal.
Language	eng
Description	A view of Avalon Bay, with a steamship and other small boats in the harbor. The Holly Hill House is visible on the far shore.
Historical Background	Santa Catalina Island is located approximately 26 miles off the coast of Southern California, near Long Beach. In 1887, entrepreneur George Shatto purchased the Island with the intention of turning it into a major tourist destination. He began the settlement of Avalon Bay, built the first pier and hotel, and organized regular boat service to the island, but amassed debts and sold the property in 1892 to Joseph and Hancock Banning. The Banning brothers continued to develop the area, adding an aquarium, incline railway, amphitheater, and glass bottom boat tours to the island's natural attractions, until a devastating fire swept through Avalon in 1915, destroying much of their real estate. In 1919, William Wrigley participated in a group investment purchase of Catalina, but grew to love the island and soon bought out his other partners. He and his son Philip continued to develop the island, and in the mid-1970s created the Catalina Island Conservancy, which was given 88% of the island to protect native species and prevent over-development. During World War II, the Santa Catalina Island Company offered the land for government use, and several branches of the military set up training facilities there. Catalina remained closed it to tourists until the war ended in 1945, when the steamships returned and resorts re-opened.
Additional Notes	Approximate date from postmark; Made in Germany.
Source	Werner von Boltenstern Postcard Collection