On November 24, 1602, Spanish explorer Sebastián Vizcaíno named Santa Catalina Island after landing there on the eve of St. Catherine’s Day, though the island had been inhabited by skilled seafaring Native peoples for thousands of years. Over time it became a stop for traders, smugglers, hunters, and later part of the United States, eventually developing into a popular resort destination under the Banning Brothers and William Wrigley Jr., who transformed Catalina into a beloved vacation spot known for its flying fish, glass-bottom boats, movie history, and even its famous herd of buffalo. From military use in World War II to the creation of the Catalina Island Conservancy, the island’s story highlights the beauty of God’s creations and our responsibility to care for the earth and preserve it for future generations in His Story today.

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