If you have visited the Museum recently, you may have noticed that our beloved Banning house is in dire need of some serious TLC. Beleaguered by peeling paint and exposed raw wood caused by harsh coastal conditions, the grand ‘ole mansion desperately needs extensive exterior refurbishment and restoration. We’re not just talking about a new coat of paint. It’s much more than that. It is about conserving and safeguarding a National Historic Landmark that is a vital link to Southern California’s past. To address the situation and prevent further damage to the house’s exterior and structural elements, we recently launched

Friends of Banning Museum continues its Keeping History Alive Lecture Series with “Layers of the Past: Construction History of the Banning Mansion” The Banning mansion was built by Phineas Banning in 1864. The 23-room Victorian residence remains the finest example of domestic Greek Revival architecture in Southern California. The home’s construction symbolized Phineas Banning’s confidence in the future of his community. The lecture presented by Museum Director, Michael Sanborn, will focus on the evolution of the Banning residence and will include the current painting and restoration project that the residence is undergoing. There will be a Q&A session after the lecture. Friends

Please join Friends of Banning Museum for a special lecture by Museum Director, Michael Sanborn. The lecture will be held on Saturday, April 27 at 10:00 am in the historic Carriage Barn. Former slave Harriet Mason worked for the Banning Family in the early 1860′s at the height of the Civil War. It was her heroic actions that helped save many lives in the Los Angeles Harbor after the Ada Hancock disaster in 1863. Come and learn about this fascinating woman and the historic contributions that her family made to early Los Angeles history. There will be a Q &

This special exhibit features a selection of Banning Family items many of which have never been on display. The Exhibit is on display in our Norris Visitor Center from March 9 – August 4, 2013.

  Join us on Saturday, March 23 for Friends of Banning Museum’s annual scholarship presentation and largest fundraiser of the year. Set in the Roarin’ Twenties, this year’s event will be unlike any other. Guests will enjoy a fun-filled evening of suspense and intrigue as active participants in the murder mystery of the The Last Gala. With Cole Porter tunes as the backdrop, it will be a classic “Who Done It” with each table working together to solve the mystery of who killed Miss Otis. So, don’t miss it! Here’s your chance to have an entertaining night out and support the