Title supplied by cataloger. Avalon, or Avalon Bay, the only "official" city on Santa Catalina Island, is a rural waterfront town with the usual tourist-oriented businesses and services lining the coastline. Beside Avalon, the only other center of population is the small, unincorporated town of Two Harbors on the island. The twelve-story Catalina Casino, a focal point of Santa Catalina Island entertainment since it opened in 1929, is surrounded by the sea on three sides. Although The Casino is an icon of Catalina and Avalon, there isn't any actual gambling allowed. The stunning Art Deco building stands at 140 feet tall and contains the world's largest circular ballroom with a 180-foot diameter dance floor as well as a beautiful movie theater. The Casino hosts most of Catalina's major indoor events, including the annual New Year's Eve Celebration, and the Catalina Island Jazz Festival. As of the 2000 census, there were approximately 3,127 people residing in the city. The S.S. Catalina, known as "The Great White Steamer", was laid down on December 26, 1923, christened on May 3, 1924, completed in 1924, and took its maiden voyage on June 30, 1924. The 301-foot ship, originally built at a cost of $1 million dollars, was in service from 1924 and carried about 25 million passengers between Los Angeles and Avalon Harbor until she was retired on September 14, 1975. The Catalina has been recognized as a Historic-Cultural Monument, #213, and is a California State Historic Landmark. She was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1976. View of Avalon Bay on Santa Catalina Island as seen through sparce trees atop a mountain top. Small houses as well as various tourist-oriented businesses and office buildings appear close to the shoreline, with several larger apartment complexes nestled in the hills farther away. The Catalina Casino, surrounded by the sea on three sides, is visible at the edge of the bay on the right along with several boats along with S.S. Catalina, "The Great White Steamer", the large ship that is visible between the two thin trees.
Type
image
Format
1 photographic print :b&w ;21 x 26 cm. Photographic prints
Catalina Casino S.S. Catalina (Ship) Passenger ships--California--Los Angeles Boats and boating--California--Santa Catalina Island Dwellings--California--Santa Catalina Island Islands--California, Southern Hotels--California--Santa Catalina Island Bays--California--Santa Catalina Island Panoramic photographs Santa Catalina Island (Calif.) Avalon (Calif.)
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