Tuna Club of Avalon facts for kids
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Tuna Club of Avalon
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Main entrance
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 Location in the Los Angeles metropolitan area
Location in California
Location in the United States
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| Location | 100 St. Catherine Way, Catalina Island, Avalon, California |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1916 |
| Architectural style | Bungalow/craftsman |
| NRHP reference No. | 91000338 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | April 2, 1991 |
The Tuna Club of Avalon is a special private club. It is located in Avalon on Santa Catalina Island in California.
Contents
History of the Tuna Club
This club was started in 1898 by a man named Charles Frederick Holder. He wanted to create a place for people who loved fishing.
Famous Visitors and Members
Many famous people were part of the club or visited it. Some early members included writer Zane Grey and singer Bing Crosby. Famous actors like Charlie Chaplin, Stan Laurel, and Cecil B. DeMille were also members. Even important leaders like Herbert Hoover, who later became a US President, joined.
Some people were made honorary members. This means they were given special recognition. Theodore Roosevelt, who was the Governor of New York and later a US President, became an honorary member in 1898. Another US President, Grover Cleveland, also became an honorary member in 1899.
You might have heard that Winston Churchill was a member. He was not, but he did visit the club once in 1929. During his visit, he caught a very large marlin, which is a type of fish, that weighed 125 pounds!
For many years, only men could be members of the Tuna Club. But now, women are also welcome to join. The club also uses other buildings near the water.
The Clubhouse Building
The main building of the Tuna Club is located at 100 St. Catherine Way in Avalon. This building is very important. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's a special place that is important to the history of the United States. It was added to this list on April 2, 1991.
The clubhouse is also a California Historical Landmark. This means it's recognized as a very important historical site in California.
Why the Clubhouse is Special
A special sign at the site tells us why the Tuna Club is so important:
- NO. 997 TUNA CLUB OF AVALON - The Tuna Club of Avalon marks the birthplace of modern big game sportfishing in 1898. Led by Dr. Charles Frederick Holder, the club's founding members adopted the rules of conduct stressing conservationist ethics and sporting behavior. Today, their work remains the basis for the sport's internationally accepted principles.
This sign means that the Tuna Club is where modern big game sportfishing began. Big game fishing is when you try to catch very large fish. The people who started the club, led by Charles Frederick Holder, made rules for fishing. These rules were about being fair and protecting the fish. These ideas are still used in sportfishing all over the world today.
The clubhouse was even used in a movie! It appeared in the 1974 film Chinatown. In the movie, the club was called the Albacore Club.
