Banning House facts for kids
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Banning House
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Banning House, August 2008
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 Location in the Los Angeles metropolitan area
Location in California
Location in the United States
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| Location | 401 E. M St., Wilmington, Los Angeles, California |
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| Built | 1863 |
| Architect | Phineas Banning |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival-Victorian |
| NRHP reference No. | 71000160 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | May 6, 1971 |
The Banning House, also called the General Phineas Banning Residence Museum, is a very old and important house. It's located in the Wilmington part of Los Angeles, California. This house was built in 1863 by Phineas Banning. It's designed in a special style called Greek Revival mixed with Victorian.
The house is near the original San Pedro Bay. The Banning family lived here until 1925. Since 1927, the City of Los Angeles has owned it. Today, the house, its barn, and gardens are a museum you can visit. The Banning House property, also known as Banning Park, is a special place. It's recognized as a city Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument and a state California Historical Landmark. It's also listed on the national list of historic places, called the National Register of Historic Places.
History and Design
The Banning House was designed by Phineas Banning himself. People say it's one of the best examples of Greek Revival style in the western United States. When it was first built, it had 30 rooms. Now, some rooms have been joined together, so it has 24 rooms.
Phineas Banning got help from many skilled workers to build his house. He hired shipwrights (people who build ships), blacksmiths, carpenters, and artists. These workers were usually busy on clipper ships visiting the Wilmington harbor. Banning was known for throwing big parties for ship captains. He encouraged them to stay in port longer. This gave his builders more time to work on his mansion. The house was finished in 1864.
This house was very different from the usual adobe houses in Southern California back then. It became a famous and impressive home. While Banning lived there, the house was a lively place for parties. He called these parties "regales." Important people like United States senators, governors, and business leaders attended. It's said that "no home in all California represents the horse and carriage era more fully than the Banning Mansion." It was also the site of the first yachting party on the West Coast.
Phineas Banning arrived in Los Angeles in 1851. He became very successful in transportation. He owned ships, built railroads, and ran stagecoach lines. These lines connected Wilmington to Los Angeles, San Bernardino, and Fort Yuma. In 1858, he founded the town of Wilmington. He named it after his hometown, Wilmington, Delaware. In 1869, he built the first railroad in Los Angeles. It was called the Los Angeles and San Pedro Railroad. He also helped design and promote the first breakwater at the Los Angeles harbor. Because of all his work, he is known as the "Father of the Port of Los Angeles."
Banning loved to walk up the stairs to his fourth-floor cupola. From there, he could watch ships arriving with their goods. He was also elected to the California government in 1867 and 1869. Banning lived in the house for over 20 years. He passed away in 1885 at age 53 while visiting San Francisco.
Visiting the Museum
After Phineas Banning passed away, his son, Hancock Banning, lived in the house. The Banning family continued to live there until 1925. In 1927, the City of Los Angeles bought the house and its land. They wanted to create a city park for the people of Wilmington.
In 1934, the city decided to restore the house. The Banning family helped by donating many of the original furniture pieces. Even movie studios like Twentieth-Century Fox and Warner Brothers helped. They gave wallpapers to make the house look like it did during the Civil War era. The house officially opened in 1936. Important people like the Governor and Mayor attended the opening. It opened to the public in 1938. It closed during World War II in 1941 and reopened in 1952.
Today, the house is known as the General Phineas Banning Residence Museum. Besides the house and its furniture, the museum has more to see. There's a gallery in the basement with old photographs. These pictures show the history of the port, the Banning family, and Wilmington. The museum also has a big collection of 19th-century stagecoaches in the barn. There's even a one-room schoolhouse next to the main house. The gardens are beautiful too. They have eucalyptus trees, which are believed to be the first planted in California. There are also large wisteria vines planted a long time ago.
You can visit the museum for guided tours. Tours are available Tuesday through Thursday at 12:30 PM, 1:30 PM, and 2:30 PM. On Saturdays and Sundays, tours are at 12:30 PM, 1:30 PM, 2:30 PM, and 3:30 PM. They ask for a $5 donation for visitors aged 12 and older.
Historic Recognitions
Banning Park, which includes the Banning House, barn, and gardens, is very important. It was named a California Historical Landmarks in 1935. In 1962, the Los Angeles Cultural Heritage Commission was created. The Banning House was one of the first places they recognized. It became a Banning Park (HCM #25) in October 1963. It was also the sixth place in Los Angeles to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This happened in May 1971.
A special marker at the site, California Historical Landmark Marker NO. 147, says:
- NO. 147 BANNING PARK - General Phineas Banning, State Senator and pioneer in the development of transportation in Southern California, built this house in the 1850s, soon after founding the town of Wilmington. He and his family lived here until his death in 1885. In 1927 the property was deeded to the city.
Images for kids
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Early drawing of Banning House from the Los Angeles Public Library collections.
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Image of early Banning House from the Los Angeles Public Library collection.
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East side view
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East elevation and patio
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First floor front porch
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First floor family room
See also
- List of Registered Historic Places in Los Angeles
- List of Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monuments in the Harbor area
- Drum Barracks – A Civil War army camp built on land given by Banning. It's located close to the Banning House.
