Prior to the modern era the island was inhabited by people of the Tongva tribe, who also lived in the area of Los Angeles, had villages near present day San Pedro and Playa del Rey, and who regularly traveled back and forth to Catalina for trade. The Tongva called the island Pimu or Pimungna.
The first European to ever set foot on the island was the Portuguese explorer Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo, sailing for Spain. This happened on October 7, 1542. He claimed the island for Spain and christened it San Salvador. Another Spanish explorer, Sebastian Vizcaino, rediscovered the island on the eve of Saint Catherine's day (November 24) in 1602. He renamed it Santa Catalina.


Around 1910; before the construction of the casino, during the following 300 years, the island served as home or base of operation for all sorts of visitors, from Russian otter hunters to Spanish smugglers to Chinese pirates. Franciscan monks tried to build a mission there, but failed due to the lack of fresh water on the island. The native population was mostly wiped out during 19th century. Catalina Island experienced a brief period of gold rush in 1860s, but no gold was ever found, and eventually early mining attempts were abandoned. By the end of 19th century, the island was almost uninhabited except for a few cattle herders. At that time, its location just 20 miles from Los Angeles. Los Angeles had reached the population of 50,000 in 1890 and was experiencing a period of enormous growth. This growth was a major element that contributed to the development of the island into a vacation destination.

The sons of Phineas Banning, hence “Banning Brothers”, bought the island in 1891 from the estate of James Lick and established the Santa Catalina Island Company to develop it as a resort. Their efforts were devastated on November 29, 1915 when a fire burned half of Avalon, including six hotels and several clubs. World War I also hampered tourism. Amidst all these tragedies, the fire, WWI; the Banning brothers were forced to sell Catalina island.

William Wrigley, Jr. bought Catalina Island in 1919 and devoted himself to preserving and promoting it. In 1921 he sold lots for building in the town of Avalon. The tourism industry was encouraged by the construction of a beautiful Art Deco dance hall, called the Casino, in 1929. Its upstairs dance floor has a capacity of over 6,000 dancers, and sits above the stylish Avalon Theater, which seats 1,150. While the theater shows movies almost exclusively, it has the capabilities to host theatrical productions as well.
From 1927 through 1937 pottery and tile were made on the island, and these items are now collectible. The Chicago Cubs, also owned by Wrigley, used the island for the team's spring training from 1920-1950.
During World War II, the island was closed to tourists and used as a military training facility.
 

Cancun travel guide
Isla Mujeres, Cozumel 

Source

Cancun travel guide
Isla Mujeres, Cozumel