Banning House, Greek Revival mansion in Wilmington, Los Angeles, United States.
Banning House is a two-story white wooden mansion with a gabled roof and a triangular pediment facing forward. A full-width two-tiered porch with square white columns and balustrades runs along both levels; two shuttered windows sit in the pediment, and brick steps with black handrails lead to a central door with sidelights and a fanlight. It has 24 rooms.
Built in 1863 by Phineas Banning, the house became a gathering place for politicians, military officers, and business leaders throughout the 1800s. Its construction reflected the rapid economic growth of Los Angeles and its emergence as an important commercial center.
Phineas Banning named Wilmington after his hometown in Delaware and called his parties "regales"; senators, governors, foreign dignitaries and ship captains attended. The gardens hold eucalyptus trees reputed to be the first planted in California and wisteria vines planted in the late 19th century.
The property offers regular guided tours through the main residence, gardens, and adjacent barn museum exhibits. Visitors can explore displays focused on transportation history and daily life in nineteenth-century California.
The property features a collection of nineteenth-century stagecoaches that remain in their original condition. Visitors can also explore a one-room schoolhouse preserved on the grounds, offering insight into early California education.
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