Episode 8. Phineas Banning Part 4.

Hey folks this is episode 8. In this fourth and final episode, Michael Sanborn, and I reflect on what Phineas Banning would think of the modern day ports. We also talk about the museum, some of its latest installations.

Transcript

Harbor Area Podcast – Part Four: Reflections, the Banning Museum, and a Few Ghost Stories

Joel (Host):
Hey folks, in this fourth and final episode, Michael Sanborn and I reflect on what Phineas Banning might think of the modern-day port. We also talk about the Banning Museum, some of its latest installations, and I want to remind you to visit thebanningmuseum.org for more information on this wonderful historical site.

What Would Banning Think Today?

Joel:
If Banning were alive today, how do you think he would react to the modern state of Los Angeles and its port system?

Michael (Guest):
I get asked this all the time. Remember, he ran on the Union ticket — which, back then, was the Republican ticket. He was a conservative, deeply devoted to his country, to business, and to being an entrepreneur. I think there are a lot of things in today’s world he might not agree with, but he would always support successful, competitive business.

I believe he’d be pleased — even impressed — to see how far the harbor has come. Efficiency would stand out to him, especially green energy advancements and the ability to load cargo directly to rail. That was his big vision in the 1860s: get goods from ship to rail and off to market as quickly as possible.

It would be an eye-opener for him, but I think he’d be fascinated by the technology, the scale, and the growth — from a settlement of around 1,500 people in the 1850s to tens of thousands in San Pedro today, not counting Wilmington or Long Beach.

Inside the Banning Museum

Joel:
We’ve talked a lot about Banning’s work on the port and transportation. My next question is — what are some of the museum’s most popular exhibits or artifacts, and why are they significant?

Michael:
All the open rooms in the house — the office, family living room, parlor, dining room, and bedrooms — are interpreted as they would have appeared during Banning’s lifetime, focusing on the 1860s through the turn of the century. The exterior looks much as it did in 1864, but the interior evolved as later family members made upgrades like electrification and indoor plumbing.

We also mount temporary exhibits in our Visitor Center. Coming up, we’re featuring photographs by Phineas’s middle son, Joseph Banning, an amateur photographer. We have a beautiful collection of his glass plate negatives dating from around 1869 through his lifetime. Most have now been scanned, and we’re creating contact sheets so they can be displayed — many for the first time.

Joseph photographed everyday life: scenes on the property, views of Wilmington, and some of the earliest known street scenes in the area. The exhibit will include about 20 glass plates along with stereo cards he created. We even have his camera, glass plates, and personal artifacts.

Some images make you wonder — “What was that exterior staircase for?” — and others show parts of the house that no longer exist. These photos give us new insight into the property and its history.

Keeping the Museum Fresh

Joel:
Earlier, I almost avoided asking — how do you reinvigorate a historic house museum? But now I’m glad I did.

Michael:
Even with a house that’s over 150 years old, there are ways to make each visit unique. Our volunteers change seasonal settings in the rooms — winterizing or summarizing the home — and create themed table settings in the dining room to reflect breakfast, dinner, or when the family was away.

When we know Banning hosted a “regale” (lavish dinner party), we recreate the atmosphere. His regales were famous, often printed in the papers with the full menu listed. But they always had a purpose — to excite potential investors about his latest venture.

Our volunteer corps, active since the nonprofit began in 1974, is incredible. Some have served more than 30 years. They keep the museum alive, relevant, and connected to the community.

50 Years of the Banning Museum Nonprofit

Michael:
This year marks the nonprofit’s 50th anniversary. We celebrated during our annual fundraiser, the Wisteria Regale, held in the stagecoach barn. We honored the original volunteers from 1974, their families, and all who have kept the program going. We also highlighted our achievements in our publication Banning and Company.

Michael’s Path to the Museum

Joel:
What initially drew you to this role, and what’s been your most rewarding experience so far?

Michael:
In the early ’90s, I was working on my master’s in historic preservation at Cal State Dominguez Hills. I needed an internship, so I knocked on the museum’s door. The director at the time, Zoe Berquist, said they had a project: cataloging historic photographs throughout the house.

I had no idea how to do it — but I said yes. I spent the weekend buried in research, learned the basics, and created a photo accession index. From there, I was hooked.

Since then, I’ve helped restore the building, acquire significant family collections, and work alongside amazing staff and volunteers. It’s been incredibly rewarding to work in my field of study and preserve such an important piece of Southern California history.

What Visitors Should Take Away

Michael:
When I give a tour, I try to connect with visitors’ interests — whether it’s the family’s story, the architecture, or Victorian history. When they walk out saying, “I get it now,” I know they’ve learned something meaningful.

The house itself is a Greek Revival — a style more common in civic buildings than private homes. Understanding its architecture is just one of many “aha” moments people can have here.

Do You Believe in Ghosts?

Joel:
Halloween just passed and Thanksgiving is coming up — do you believe in ghosts?

Michael:
I’ve never seen anything, but I have smelled things. Visitors often tell me the upstairs middle bedroom on the west side — the girls’ room — is haunted. I’ve smelled perfume there, and occasionally unlit cigar or pipe tobacco. Sometimes, in the dining room, there’s even the smell of food.

Whether or not it’s paranormal, it adds a layer of mystery to a place that’s already rich with history.

Joel:
Michael, the work you’ve done over the last 29 years — preserving history, keeping it accessible, and connecting people to Wilmington’s story — is remarkable. Thank you so much for sharing it with us today.

Michael:
Thank you, Joel. I’ve enjoyed this, and I look forward to more conversations like this.

Closing

Joel:
Thanks for listening today. If you enjoyed the episode, please click download. If you have Harbor Area stories to share, email me at harborareapodcast@yahoo.com.

Take care, and remember to treat each other kindly.