The SS Avalon began her career in May 1891 as the Virginia, flagship for the Chicago-based Goodrich Transit Company serving the Great Lakes. Her appointments were ornate and luxurious.

In 1918, the Navy requisitioned her to support the war effort. Renamed USS Blue Ridge, she was to be converted to a troop transport. Deemed excess by the government in 1919, she was sold to representatives of the Wrigley family and brought to the West Coast. In April 1920, after a major refit, and a name change to Avalon, she made the first of thousands of channel crossings to Catalina. Fast, plush and comfortable and a capacity of 1,500 passengers, the Avalon was the way to visit Catalina.

After 31 years of operations between the mainland and Catalina, the old steamer was retired, cut down and converted into a salvage barge. In 1964, while employed in the salvage of the Dominator, which had run aground on Palos Verdes Point in 1961, the Avalon was swamped in bad weather and foundered in 80 feet of water just north of the point.

(Ref: California Diving News)