The Economic Times

The Wrigley family spent 56 years reshaping Catalina Island after buying it in 1919; in 1975, they gave 42,135 acres away to protect the California island

In 1919, William Wrigley Jr. acquired the Santa Catalina Island Company, and his family dedicated the next 56 years to managing the island, effectively balancing tourism with environmental conservation. Their legacy continued in 1975 when they donated most of Catalina to a conservancy, safeguarding its diverse ecosystems and wild landscapes for future generations to explore and enjoy.