Imagine the thrill of a million-dollar ship. That’s the SS Avalon. Right here in Los Angeles we stand before the legacy of this magnificent vessel. The SS Avalon wasn’t always a sunken treasure. Once she was the “Queen of the Channel” a passenger steamship carrying thousands between Los Angeles and Catalina Island.
Built in 1891 as the SS Virginia she plied the Great Lakes. The US Navy requisitioned her during World War I. They even cut off her bow and stern to navigate the St Lawrence River. It’s a testament to her resilience that they reassembled her. Sold as surplus after the war William Wrigley Jr. owner of the famous chewing gum company and Catalina Island bought her.
Renamed the SS Avalon she made her grand debut in 1920. Imagine 3000 people onboard for her maiden voyage. A 32-piece orchestra played as she sailed. Silk flags adorned her. The Avalon boasted luxurious staterooms private baths even two ballrooms. Her powerful engines allowed her to cruise at 16 knots.
The Avalon became synonymous with the glamorous era. She was a symbol of luxury and elegance. Interestingly Canal Street in Los Angeles was even renamed Avalon Boulevard in her honor. But the glamour wouldn’t last.
During World War II she was again requisitioned. After the war she continued her voyages until 1951. Sold for scrap she met a fiery end in 1960. A fire gutted her. The Coast Guard and Long Beach fire boats fought the blaze. They poured so much water that the ship listed. Even today divers explore her remains. She rests in 70 feet of water off Point Vincente.
The SS Avalon a million-dollar ship that sailed to glory then met a dramatic end. Her story is a reminder of the fleeting nature of time and splendor. Her legend lives on in the hearts of those who remember her voyages. Even in her watery grave the SS Avalon remains a captivating piece of maritime history.