History of Santa Catalina Island

The history of Santa Catalina Island began with Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo

The history of Santa Catalina Island began On Saturday October 7, 1542 when explorer Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo landed his sail near San Pedro. Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo noticed an island offshore of San Pedro and sailed to it. However, Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo lived a short life and his newly founded island went forgotten for over 60 years.

General Sebastian Viscaino names Santa Catalina Island

Then came General Sebastian Viscaino in May 1602. General Sebastian Viscaino and his crew landed near what is now Avalon on November 24, 1602 while exploring California for good ports. It was General Sebastian Viscaino who named the discovered island Santa Catalina Island after St. Catherine of Alexandria. In Spanish St. Catherine is pronounced Santa Catalina, hence the name Santa Catalina Island.

During the time of Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo, there were not many indians. When General Sebastian Viscaino discovered the island the second time, there were about 2,500 indians living on Santa Catalina Island. But, again, Santa Catalina Island was left alone after General Don Sebastian Viscaino until the 1800s.

Fur traders landed on Santa Catalina Island

In the early 1800's Captain William Shaler, a fur trader, was searching for the sea otters along the coastline to sell their pelts to the Chinese merchants in Canton. Captain Shaler landed the first American ship at Santa Catalina Island.

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