Title supplied by cataloger. 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, but after amassing large debts, he sold the property in 1892 to Joseph and Hancock Banning. For more than twenty-five years, the Banning brothers had ownership of Santa Catalina Island and continued to develop the area. In 1919, the Banning brothers sold the land to William Wrigley, who along with his son Philip, continued to develop the island. In the mid-1970s, they created the Catalina Island Conservancy, which was given 88% of the island to protect native species and prevent over-development. A man seen dressed in a dark sweater, dark pants, and a sailor cap squats down next to a grave marker, which reads: "In memory of Samuel Prentice native of Massachusetts arrived in California 1824, died on Catalina 1854. Aged 79 years". Etched separately at the top of the marker is: "Nov. 21, 1925 - John Mclusky - Dolores Coronado - Bill Sherwood". It is believed that in 1832 Samuel Prentice hunted for sea otters up and down the coast of Santa Catalina Island, where he took up residence and died years later, in 1854. He was the first 'civilized' man buried on the island.
Type
Image
Format
1 photographic print :b&w ;11 x 14 cm. on sheet 21 x 26 cm. Photographic prints
Sepulchral monuments--California--Santa Catalina Island Cemeteries--California--Santa Catalina Island Islands--California, Southern Men--California--Santa Catalina Island Santa Catalina Island (Calif.) Avalon (Calif.)
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