In honor of Pearl Harbor Day, Friday, Dec. 7, the Catalina Island Museum debuted its latest special exhibition highlighting the critical role Catalina Island played in the defense of our nation during World War II.
In honor of Pearl Harbor Day, Friday, Dec. 7, the Catalina Island Museum debuted its latest special exhibition highlighting the critical role Catalina Island played in the defense of our nation during World War II.
“First Line of Defense: Catalina Island and World War II” reveals topics that were previously unexplored by the museum, such as the covert operations of the Office of Strategic Services at Toyon Bay and Howland’s Landing, the hardships of Island residents and how various branches of the United States military came to lease different portions of the Island for training and coastal defense operations.
Museum patrons were fascinated by the maritime unit and Detachment 101 operations of the OSS and their contributions to the modern warfare tactics used today.
“We are quite pleased with the number of museum members and visitors who attended the opening reception,” said Devin Thompson, director of development and membership at the museum.
“Events like this demonstrate the value of membership in Catalina’s only museum and over the course of the weekend we welcomed 16 new members,” Thompson said.
Longtime museum members, Richard and Nancy Kellogg, were among the first through the door for the opening reception.
Richard Kellogg is a World War II veteran who served in the United States Maritime Service and vividly remembers his training on Catalina Island in 1943. According to Kellogg, the trainees learned survival skills, such as how to swim through floating burning oil, lifeboat procedures, jumping off of a 30-foot tower wearing a life jacket, exercises to gain strength and education on weaponry.
Kellogg was specifically trained on how to operate and maintain engine room machinery.
“It shows what actually happened on the Island during World War II. We were not told of any other wartime activities occurring at other locations on the Island. Secrecy was always the name of the game during the war,” Kellog said.
Featuring photographs, top-secret weapons and recently declassified documents and color footage of trainees on the Island, this exhibition uncovers the stories of Island residents, soldiers and spies as they prepared for war on the “magic isle.”
“First Line of Defense” will run through April 28, 2013 and can only be viewed at the Catalina Island Museum.
The Catalina Island Museum, its digital theater and store are located on the ground floor of Avalon’s historic Casino and are open seven 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 its website: CatalinaMuseum.org.
