Catalina Chimes Tower

Assuring the Future of the Catalina Chimes Tower

First time visitors to Avalon are often deeply moved by the sights and sounds of this beautiful seaside hamlet. While the iconic Catalina Casino is the first sight most see as they approach the harbor, the first sound they hear once they arrive emanates from the hillside just above the Casino, where the historic Chimes Tower sings its familiar tune. In 1925, William Wrigley Jr. and his wife Ada Elizabeth Wrigley purchased the Westminster chimes from Chicago’s J.C. Deagan Company and soon after had the distinctive Spanish-style tower built as their permanent home. Only half of the 440 chimes produced by the Deagan Company are still in operation today, and in 2025 the Catalina Chimes will celebrate their centennial.

It was Mrs. Wrigley’s hope that the unique sound of the melodic chimes would waft across the town for years to come, bringing joy to all who visited Avalon. This would only add another bit of character to the magical island that had captivated the Wrigley’s when they arrived six years earlier as the island’s new majority owners.

While well-beloved throughout their time in Avalon, the chimes did begin to show signs of age as the years wore on. In 2013, the board of the Santa Catalina Island Company decided to create a non-profit foundation, the Catalina Chimes Tower Foundation, and deeded the chimes and tower to it. In 2015, the Foundation held its first meeting and since then has made great strides in restoration thanks to gifts from local islanders and guests overtown.  It continues its fundraising efforts to complete its vision of refurbishing the chimes, restoring, renovating, and improving access to this beloved structure, and caring for it in perpetuity by creating an endowment enabling the Chimes Tower to be self-sustaining in the future. 

We all look forward to seeing the Chimes Tower restored to its original glory so guests can enjoy the Westminster chimes for generations to come. If you would like to help restore the Chimes Tower, you may send a tax-deductible contribution to The Catalina Chimes Tower Foundation, P.O. Box 677, Avalon, CA 90704. For more information, please visit www.catalinachimes.org.