Catalina Island: A History

Ms. Edwards2012

WHERE ARE WE GOING?

More Specifically…CatalinaEnvironmentalLeadership Program

Is located outside of Parsons Landing, on the north portion of the Island.

STOP!

• In you SCIENCE NOTEBOOKS please write:1. 3 facts about Catalina Island– Catalina Island is located in the Pacific Ocean.

2. 2 questions you have about Catalina Island or 2 things you would like to know about Catalina Island.

Evidence of settlers 8,000 years ago Called themselves Pimuvets and the island Pimu

1542 claimed for Spain. Gabrelino Indians inhabited for 500 years.

1602 Sebatian Visciano reclaimed the island for Spain. Named it Catalina in honor of Saint Catherine's feast daySpanish began to build missions and disrupted trade in Catalina, the Gabrelinos were taken to missions1821 Mexico gained independence and governed California and Catelina

Gov.Pio Pico grave Catalina Island to a Mexican citizen, Thomas Robbins.

1848 California became a state. Beginning of the gold rush brought some settlers to Catalina. No gold was found.1867 millionare James Lick of San Francisco bought the island and forced all squatters to move, and all ranchers to pay for the right to raise sheep and cattle on the island1887 George Shatto bought the island and decided to turn it into a tourist spot

Built the Hotel Metropole and named the town Avalon. The town was unsuccessful

1892 Island was sold to Banning Brothers and began building the islands infrastructure including roads, railway, telephone lines, and more transportation to and from the island

Bannings also built a greek theater, dance pavillions, bandstand, aquarium, golf course and set up excursions including fishing, glass bottom boat trips, and sight seeing by stage coach

1913 Avalon became an offical City

1915 huge fire destroyed 1/3 of Avalon

1919 Island was sold to William Wrigley Jr. Developed the island into much of what it is today; built the casino, hotels, bird park,

1932 Ownership of the island passed to his son Philip K. Wrigley 1930's catalina was used for filming and was popular during big band era. During WWII the island was closed to tourists and used to host and train military

1975 the Wrigley Family donated 88% of the island to the Catalina Island Conservancy, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to preserve the island and restore the island to its natural state for future generations

Santa Catalina Island Company owns 11% of the island. 1% is privately owned

Gabrielino/Tongva Tribe

Map of Gabrielino/Tongva Villages