The Catalina Island Museum recently purchased the property between its existing building and the Casa Maraquita Hotel. Though there are no immediate plans for use of the lot, the museum has stated that the purchase allows for the opportunity to complete the facility in a way that supports its mission.
“The sellers presented us with a buy it now or lose it opportunity,” said Julie Perlin Lee, executive director of the Catalina Island Museum.
“The purchase of the property provides the museum several potential benefits including creating appropriate on-site storage for the care of the museum’s historical artifacts, expansion of its educational footprint in the community and flexibility in maximizing the benefits of its recently announced partnership with Chapman University,” Lee said.
“After thoughtful analysis and consideration, the board decided the time was now,” Lee said.
“This innovative collaboration has great potential to enhance the impact of both Chapman University and the Catalina Island Museum on Southern California communities,” said Chapman University President Daniele C. Struppa.
“I see countless possibilities for this relationship now and into the future,” Struppa said.
According to the museum, the purchase was completed using existing capital and board-raised funds.
“The board recognized the potential value of the property to the museum and the important part it will play in completing the museum’s strategic imperatives,” said Ron Bevins, chairman of the Catalina Island Museum’s board of trustees. “We realized that if we did not purchase it now, it would likely have been sold soon and our chance to complete our facility could be gone forever.”
Specific plans and details for the completion of the museum will be released at a later date.
The Catalina Island Museum offers the best in art and history exhibitions, music and dance performances, lectures by guest speakers from all over the world, and the finest in silent, documentary and international film. Open seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., except New Year’s Day, July 4th, Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. The museum’s Ada Blanche Wrigley Schreiner Building is located in the heart of Avalon at 217 Metropole Ave.
For more information, call 310-510-2414 or visit CatalinaMuseum.org.
