Catalina Island

Figure A--Chewing-gum mogul William Wrigley Jr. purchased the island in 1919, reportedly before he even saw it. He wasn't disappointed by Catalina's breathtaking topography, which included rugged inland mountains, golden beaches bordering the turquoise waters of the Pacific Ocean and a rocky shoreline. Wrigley embarked on a mission to preserve Catalina's unique beauty for future generations to enjoy.

Figure B--Avalon, the only city on Catalina Island, sits on a natural harbor from the ocean and over the years has attracted pirates, bootleggers and trappers, as well as many tourists. The city's layout reflects Wrigley's great vision of beauty and efficiency, because the city limits encompass only one square mile.

Catalina's Casino--On the shore of Avalon's harbor sits one of the crowning achievements of Wrigley's time on the island--the casino, which is an Italian word for "gathering place." Built in 1929, it is considered to be one of the finest examples of art-deco architecture and design available in Southern California. Highlights include the Avalon Theater on its bottom floor, the top-floor ballroom with an enormous parquet floor, and an open-air balcony that encircles the dance floor and offers breathtaking views of the city.

Figure C--Tiles manufactured by a company on the island bring vivid and colorful designs to steps, fountains, buildings and planters along Crescent Avenue, the city's most picturesque street. Crescent is a bay-front pedestrian promenade that was developed by Wrigley's son, Phillip K. Wrigley, in the 1930s to give people a place to relax and sit along the beach.

Figure D--Green Pleasure Pier extends from the center of Crescent Avenue and offers visitors access to many water sports, including snorkeling, parasailing, kayaking and riding the waves on a rented recreational watercraft vehicle. It remains a center of activity even today.

Figure E--Among the variety of accommodations offered in Avalon, visitors will find that the Hotel Metropole is one of the most opulent. The Wianecki family built their hotel on the site of the original Hotel Metropole, which was considered one of the finest in the city until it burned in 1915.

Figure F--Since 1894, visitors to Catalina Island journey to its center on guided tours, first by stagecoach and now by tour bus. During the tour, they learn much about the history of the island and its natural resources. Visitors always find the sight of grazing bison interesting and although the animals appear very much at home on Catalina, the bison aren't native. In fact, the first bison were introduced to the island for use in a 1924 movie. The filmmaker left them on the island instead of transporting them back to the mainland.

Figure G--Ada Wrigley, wife of William Wrigley Jr., planted Avalon's Botanical Gardens with cacti and succulents in 1935. They blossomed into a showcase of plants native to Catalina Island.

Figure H--The William Wrigley Memorial presides over the garden and pays homage to William Wrigley Jr., who died in 1932. The large arch is lined with colorful tiles manufactured by the Catalina Tile Company, which combined with the sandstone exterior reflects the heavy Spanish influences in early-California life.

Figure I--For those interested in more than Catalina's land-locked beauty, oceangoing vessels leave from the Green Pleasure Pier daily, providing tourists with breathtaking views of life below sea level, including schools of tropical fish and plants, such as iodine kelp.

Figure J--In 1921 William Wrigley Jr. and his wife Ada built the mansion on Catalina Island that is now the Inn on Mt. Ada. Wrigley hired a man to find the spot on the island that offers the most spectacular view and longest period of sunlight per day. After the death of Ada Wrigley in 1952, the mansion was given to the University of Southern California, who partnered with the Santa Catalina Island Conservatory to lease the space as an inn. Although the interior has changed since the Wrigleys lived in the mansion, the view remains spectacular.

After experiencing the Inn on Mt. Ada and other attractions on Catalina Island, visitors feel grateful to the Wrigley family for preserving its beauty and unique atmosphere for future generations of travelers. The people of Santa Catalina invite everyone to visit their island paradise, and it's safe to say that any traveler will find peaceful rest here.