CALIFORNIA, USA — A new exhibition on Catalina Island is unearthing hidden treasures and odd artifacts.
In this Zevely Zone, I hopped on a boat to visit the Catalina Museum for Art and History. The exhibition is called Cabinet of Curiosities: 70 Objects for 70 Years. It pays tribute to the Catalina Museum's 70-year anniversary. The exhibition features a collection of rare and captivating artifacts, some of which have never been publicly displayed.
It's a journey through history, showcasing curious and odd artifacts, photos, and paintings that tell the intriguing story of Catalina Island and its connection to early California history.
"Here we go," said Chief Curator Johnny Sampson. The museum is flooded with fun seaside memories. "Well, exactly that's what you're supposed to do here," said Sampson.
The little island off the coast of Los Angeles is famous, for famous faces. "Marilyn Monroe, she lived here during World War II briefly, this is her when she was 16 or 17," said Sampson. "We've collected some really crazy objects, some oddities." Many people from San Diego have special memories from Catalina Island, I asked my wife to marry me there, but we decided to dive a bit deeper into the island off the coast of California when we heard about their Cabinet of Curiosities. "That's what this show is," said Sampson.
Item number 1: Underwater paintings by Frances Lauderbach. "Because in 1895 we invented the glass bottom boat here on the island and so she is painting some of these as she is looking through the glass bottom boat," said Sampson. The boat isn't there, but a well-known fish is Item 39 a yellowtail caught in 1909. "I believe and I don't have the primary source on this, but I believe this was caught by George S. Patton Junior. The general," said Sampson. "Pretty crazy right?"
Catalina, pound your chest! You'd be flexing your muscles too if you had Item 42, the first letter ever mailed from the West to the east coast, or Item 30, the baton, from California's first band. "The first band in the west, I mean that's crazy right?" said Sampson. Item 34?
A newsreel from 1924 of Emily Parker. "She is painting the fish, she is doing actual fish taxidermy; I love her face right here she is so proud of herself look at that. I love it," said Johhny.
Just like Catalina is proud of its many trophies for bird competitions. "What is going on? What is that? I'm not kidding," I said while getting a little freaked out. "There is a speaker above you," said Sampson. A directional overhead speaker playing bird noises made me feel like I was going cuckoo. "Now that was curious," I laughed.
As was Item 54: Cigarettes from President Richard Nixon given to the mayor of Catalina. "You never smoked them?" I asked. Sampson told me, "No, no they're still sealed." Nixon's autographed pen, matches and cigarettes caught the eye of visitor Allison LeCount. "What manufacturer made them is what I'm interested in," said Allison. The Hidden Treasures of Catalina; smoke them if you got them. "After this we can sneak in the back," laughed Johhny.
These other items reflect the intriguing history of Catalina Island and its intertwining narratives with early California history.
■ Abalone Shell – The very first item accessioned to the museum's collection in 1953.
■ White Sea Bass Stone Pendant – Otoliths, or ear stones, are small bone-like structures fish use for balance and orientation.
For the past seven decades, the Catalina Museum for Art & History has been a custodian of the island's unique history and art. The exhibition runs through fall 2024. For more information on the exhibition click here.