Catalina Museum Opening

Catalina Island Museum Smashes Records During Saturday Evening Opening

Few could have predicted the unprecedented turnout of people and the enthusiasm of those present for Saturday, February 5th evening's opening of the newly renovated Catalina Island Museum.  The museum’s Executive Director, Dr. Michael DeMarsche, reports that the museum smashed a number of records during the evening. 

“We were so surprised by the swarms of people who just kept coming through the doors of the museum,” DeMarsche recently stated.  “We were expecting a good crowd but over 450 people came, which is over four times the number we’ve ever had for any other opening.  At times you could hardly make your way through the galleries.” 

But people did make their way through the museum, and the response of the crowd was overwhelmingly positive, with people continually exclaiming aloud “wow!” and “astonishing!”  One patron was heard to say that the museum’s transformation made it “real.”  A new member of the museum was heard to say that the Catalina Island Museum can consider itself now “one of the best small museums in Southern California.”

Joining the museum’s membership was emphasized throughout the evening, and Dr. DeMarsche was more than pleased with the response: “We sold 24 memberships during the event; the most we’ve ever sold in one day by far.  But what really pleased me was that a number of new members were first-time visitors to the island.”

Indeed, DeMarsche is confident that the museum will soon become one of Santa Catalina’s most important attractions. 

“Our museum is so dynamic now.  Our museum store is beautiful, everyone complimented us, and we have never sold so much merchandise.  And we have new exhibitions opening every few weeks in galleries that are wonderful in every way.  I’m certain that we’re headed for a period of astonishing growth.”

The Catalina Island Museum is located on the ground floor of the Avalon Casino, and is open 7 days a week, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.