Steamship Ferries of Catalina

Information about the former steamship ferries of Catalina Island in Southern California.

The Banning Family and later the Wrigley Family operated passenger steamships between the Southern California mainland and Catalina island. The crossing typically took about two hours (some sources say up to four hours) and steamship day-trippers were often able to enjoy aout four hours on the island.

S.S. Amelia
First steam vessel on the Wilmington-Catalina run, from 1880 to 1883. Owned by Wilmington Transportation Company whose president was Phineas Banning.
PLACE BUILT: Sacramento as a Riverboat
BOUGHT BY PHINEAS BANNING: 1880
- Islapedia "SS Amelia" Article

SS Avalon
- The Wrigley's first steamship ferry
- Named "Virginia" (1891–1918)
- Named "Blue Ridge" (1918–1919)
- Named Avalon (since 1919)
- California for Visitors "SS Avalon" Article

S.S. Cabrillo
LAUNCHED: February 15, 1904
CAPACITY: 1,200 passengers
NAMED AFTER: Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo
OWNER: Wilmington Transportation Company (Phineas Banning)
FATE: Abandoned 1947
- Wikipedia "SS Cabrillo" Article

SS Catalina
COST TO BUILD: $1 million
LAUNCHED: May 3, 1924
NICKNAME: "The Great White Steamer"
OWNER: Wilmington Transportation Company (Phineas Banning)
FATE: Scrapped in 2009
- California for Visitors "SS Catalina" Article

https://www.amazon.com/Early-excursion-ships-Catalina-Island/dp/B0006YDVWO/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=early+catalina+island&qid=1554050764&s=books&sr=1-1-catcorr

Resources

- Early Travel to Catalina Island - Yayle Yiotis "SS Catalina and SS Avalon" Article
- CIC "Step Back in Time: Steamer Pier" Article
- YouTube "Big White Steamers of Catalina" Video

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Other Ferries to Catalina Island

All Transportation to Catalina Island

Catalina Island Travel Guide

California for Visitors

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