There is only one brief moment a
year when visitors to Santa Catalina may explore an important part of island
history. As any islander worth his
salt can tell you, the world’s first rod and reel angling of tuna, marlin and
broadbill swordfish took place in the waters off Catalina Island by members of
Avalon’s world-famous Tuna Club. A
private club since its inception in 1898, the Tuna Club covets its traditions,
the most honored of which is strict privacy. The current residence of the Tuna Club is a magnificent
house, overlooking Avalon Harbor, which was rebuilt one year after the great
Avalon fire of 1915. The club
permits the public to tour the historic interior of the clubhouse only one day
a year, with all of the proceeds benefiting the Catalina Island Museum. Mike Rivkin, a noted historian, author
and Tuna Club President, will conduct tours this year on Saturday, August
18th. Rivkin will share the unique
history of the club and its role in the birth of sport fishing, while examining
the club’s unrivaled collection of angling artifacts, trophies and photographs.
The Tuna Club’s greatest legacy
stems from its founder, Dr. Charles Frederick Holder. Holder became a pioneer in ocean conservation by formulating
regulations that continue to govern big game angling to this day. Members strictly adhere to the rules,
and the club remains committed to ethical angling and preserving the sport’s
great traditions. The Tuna
Club`s illustrious history includes a number of famous anglers, such as British
Prime Minister Winston Churchill, movie director Cecil B. DeMille, actors
Charlie Chaplin and Stan Laurel, writer Zane Grey and General George S. Patton.
“The Tuna Club prides itself on
being one of Avalon’s oldest and most civic-minded institutions,” Rivkin stated
recently from his Avalon home. “We have partnered with the Catalina Island
Museum because we share the museum’s commitment to history and education.”
“We are excited to be able to
offer such an exclusive opportunity to our members and the community of
Avalon,” stated the Catalina Island Museum’s Executive Director Dr. Michael De
Marsche. “The preservation of island history is an important link between the
museum and the Tuna Club, and we are honored to partner with them.”
Tours will be offered on
Saturday, August 18, 2012 at 1:00 pm, 2:00 pm, and 3:00 pm. Tickets are $30 for
members of the museum and $35 for the general public.
Only 60 tickets are available and
selling fast! For more information
or to purchase tickets, the museum may be reached by phone at 310-510-2414 or
at its website: CatalinaMuseum.org.
The Catalina Island Museum is
Avalon’s sole institution devoted to art, culture and history. The museum, its digital theater and
store are located on the ground floor of Avalon’s historic Casino and are open
7 days a week, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
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