Hopefully you did not miss the opportunity to see Ken Bannister's "world's largest collection of banana related items," before The International Banana Club® Museum moved to Hisperia, CA in March 2006. For 20 years, the museum was based in Altadena, CA since April 1976. The Banana Club and Museum has been featured on 94 Television Shows around the world, including the TONIGHT SHOW with Jay Leno.
With over 17,000 artifacts, he museum has the distinction of being in the Guiness Book Of World Records as having the "Largest Collection Of Single Fruit Artifacts."
Ken has different categories in his collection such as, the "HARD" section, which includes bananas made of brass, glass, lead, wood, plastic, ceramic, cement, soap and gold plated bananas. The world's only infamous "Petrified Banana" (hard as a rock and in the museum since 1975) is definitely part of that section.
Another category, The "FOOD , DRINK and NOTIONS " displays all kinds of banana candy from the past 25 years, baby foods and juices, banana cereals, all kinds of banana drinks and even banana soda (with and without alcohol), banana tobacco and yes "banana popcorn"!
The "CLOTHING" sections include dozens of banana "T" shirts, shorts, pants, hats, and slippers. There are banana P.J.'s, suits, dress banana ties, scarves, towels, banana ears and the banana nose!
The "SOFT" section starts with the eight-foot yellow banana couch!
It is our loss that the museum has moved, but we hope the Banana Museum enjoys and prospers in its new home, in the California High Desert. If you are ever out near Hesperia, it is worth the stop to check out the museum!
For more information and to join the The International Banana Club®, contact:
www.bananaclub.com
IBC at 14012 Siesta Drive in Apple Valley, CA 92307
or call (626) 321-6262 or (760) 242-6724
