Deadman's Island (San Pedro) facts for kids
Deadman's Island was a small island located near San Pedro, California. It was one of two islands in the area during the 1800s. People also called it Dead Man's Island, Isla Del Muerto (which means "Island of the Dead" in Spanish), and Reservation Point.
The island was completely removed in 1928. This happened because the harbor in San Pedro needed to be expanded. The other island nearby, Rattlesnake Island, was also changed and is now known as Terminal Island.
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History of Deadman's Island
Early Visitors and Wildlife
A French sea captain named Auguste Bernard Duhaut-Cilly visited Deadman's Island on April 10, 1827. He found a nest at the highest point of the island. In the nest were two young "sea eagles." These birds were likely Bald eagles, which are known for their black bodies and white heads and tails.
A Sailor's Sad Story
In 1835, a writer named Richard Henry Dana, Jr. saw Deadman's Island. He wrote about it in his book Two Years Before the Mast. He described the island as "small, desolate-looking," and "steep." He mentioned that an English ship captain was buried there. People rumored that the captain had been poisoned by his own crew. Dana felt sad about the island. He wrote that it was "the only thing in California from which I could extract anything like poetry." He felt it was a lonely place for someone to be buried so far from home.
Battle and Burials
On October 8, 1846, a battle took place near the island. It was between U.S. soldiers and local Californians. This fight was called the Battle of the Old Woman's Gun. During this battle, several American soldiers were killed. They were buried on Deadman's Island, which was also known as Isla del Muerto.
Whaling Station on the Island
Deadman's Island was once home to a whaling station. Whaling stations were places where people would process whales they had caught. In January 1861, a whaling group from San Diego set up shop on the island. They caught two whales and got a lot of oil from them.
More whales were caught in the following years. In March 1861, a right whale was caught. Five more whales were caught in just two weeks. These whales were worth a lot of money at the time. In 1862, about 25 whales were caught. Most of these were probably gray whales. Captain Hart was in charge of the whaling station from 1860 to about 1862. Another whaling operation also existed on the island from 1865 to 1866.
Filming Location
The island was even used as a movie set! The comedy short film Lonesome Luke's Wild Women was filmed there in 1917. The movie starred the famous comedian Harold Lloyd.
The Island Disappears
In the late 1800s, Deadman's Island became part of a big discussion. People were arguing about where to build a deepwater port. Some wanted it in San Pedro, and others wanted it in Santa Monica Bay. Senator William P. Frye even mentioned Deadman's Island when he argued against San Pedro. He thought the names "Deadman's Island" and "Rattlesnake Island" sounded scary for sailors!
Starting in 1928, the island was removed. Workers used dynamite, dredgers, and bulldozers to clear the land. This was done to make more space for the growing port. As they worked, they found many human skeletons. The island had been used as a burial ground for hundreds of years. Among those found were sailors and marines from the 1846 battle. They also found Black Hawk, a native person from San Nicolas Island, and two Spanish soldiers who might have lived in the 1600s. There was also a blonde woman and a man with an arrowhead in his head.
