The Catalina Island Museum made history over the weekend, when it broke ground for its new home the Ada Blanche Wrigley Schreiner Building. The museum’s Board of Trustees and over 400 supporters celebrated with a formal ceremony on the museum’s 16,000 square foot site in the heart of Avalon.
The Catalina Island Museum made history over the weekend, when it broke ground for its new home the Ada Blanche Wrigley Schreiner Building. The museum’s Board of Trustees and over 400 supporters celebrated with a formal ceremony on the museum’s 16,000 square foot site in the heart of Avalon.
“Under picture perfect blue skies and warm fall temperatures, the museum symbolically embarked upon the next chapter in its long life” said museum Trustee Joyce Brown. “The new building will provide a world-class facility that will display, preserve, and promote the culture and history of Santa Catalina Island and at the same time bring unique educational experiences to the community and its visitors alike.”
She said the groundbreaking ceremony was done with a perfect flair and wonderful grace “in what has become a standard for the Catalina Island Museum.”
“It was an honor and a privilege to be a part of the Catalina Island Museum groundbreaking for the new Ada Blanche Wrigley Schreiner Building,” said Capital Campaign Chairman Steve Schreiner. “I’m certain my Mom would be greatly honored having her name attached to a building that will not only allow us to display more of our amazing history, but will also be a benefit to the entire Catalina Island community.”
“I am extremely delighted by the show of community support for the museum at its groundbreaking ceremony Saturday afternoon for the Ada Blanche Wrigley Schreiner Building,” said Angela Strege, president of the museum’s Board of Trustees. “I have received so many positive comments about the ceremony and the project, which tells me this community is ready for and enthusiastic about this new iconic landmark that will become a destination for residents and visitors to learn about and celebrate the Island’s rich culture and history.”
“As I stood looking up at the museum’s Executive Director, Dr. Michael De Marsche, the staff, Board of Trustees, donors and special guests, I couldn’t help but think of the museum’s founding trustees from 1953,” said local historian Chuck Liddel. “The proverbial baton has been passed from the original group of visionaries through many board members and museum leaders such as Jack Sargeant, Patricia Moore and Stacey Otte, to the present group of trustees and staff. Through this new building the museum will be able to show all of our visitors that we take our past seriously. The Ada Blanche Wrigley Schreiner Building will be a place where the golden memories of the past mingle with the exciting possibilities of the present and future.”
“The groundbreaking ceremony was truly an exciting event, as so many members of the Avalon community turned out to be a part of history in the making,” said museum Board of Trustees member, Steve Mandel. “For the first time, the Catalina Island Museum will have its own home, which will not only showcase Catalina’s rich history and culture, but will become the center for community activities and other special events.”
Construction is expected to take over a year, and the Ada Blanche Wrigley Schreiner Building is slated to open in early 2015.
For more information about the Ada Blanche Wrigley Schreiner Building or to participate in its capital campaign, please call 310-510-4650 or visit www.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 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, the museum may be reached by phone at 310-510-2414 or at catalinamuseum.org.
