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Avalon and bay, Catalina Island

 
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Title
Avalon and bay, Catalina Island
Description
A view of Avalon Bay, with steamships arriving in the harbor, Sugar Loaf Rock on the far right, and the Holly Hill House with its large red-roofed turret is in the foreground on the right. The Incline Railway is visible in the lower right corner.
Format Extent
1 postcard : Color ; 9 x 14 cm.
Subject
Ocean travel--California--Santa Catalina Island; Bays--California--Santa Catalina Island; Railroads, Cable--California--Santa Catalina Island; Dwellings--California--Santa Catalina Island; Seaside resorts--California--Santa Catalina Island;
Note
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. Lookout Cot, later named Holly Hill House, was built in 1890 and is the third oldest house in Avalon. Sugar Loaf Rock was blasted away in 1929 after the completion of the Grand Casino in because it was believed to spoil the view of the ocean.
Collection
Werner von Boltenstern Postcard Collection
Type
Geographic Location
Santa Catalina Island (Calif.); Avalon (Calif.)
Language
eng
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