Our visit to the Banning Museum in Wilmington proved to be a truly interesting experience.  The museum is the former home of Phineas Banning, the man who created the Port of Los Angeles at San Pedro.
On arriving in San Pedro Bay prior to the Civil War he became a stage coach driver between the Bay and Los Angeles, a distance of 22 miles.  Later he owned a stage line and the first railroad connecting the Port with Los Angeles.
He built the first breakwater of what has become the Port of Los Angeles.  He also created the City of Wilmington when he sub divided what had been a cattle ranch.
His home, built in 1864, was used by the family until the 1920s when it was donated to the City of Los Angeles.
As a museum it displays how the wealthy of that period lived and much history of how San Pedro and Wilmington developed.
Seeing the Museum is by guided tour only and these are available Tuesday through Sunday.  For times of these guided tours call 310 548-7777 or on the web at www.thebanningmusuem.org.
The Banning Museum is located at 401 East M Street in Wilmington.