Founded in 1976, the International Banana Club Museum boasts a collection of over 17,000 banana collectibles and is the world’s largest banana museum.
Located in Hesperia, California (75 miles northeast of Los Angeles), the International Banana Club Museum is the creation of Ken Bannister - known as Ken Bananaster T.P. (Top Banana) - a former sales manager at the Campbell Soup company. The museum has attracted wide attention including an appearance by Ken on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.
Displays at the museum include bananas made of brass, glass, lead, wood, plastic, ceramic, cement, soap and gold plated bananas. Banana pipes, banana trees, pins, charms, belts, magnets, rings, cups, glasses, banana slicers, clocks, musical bananas, banana records, software, knives, and banana lights. The collection goes on and on including the Michael Jackson Banana and the World’s Only Petrified Banana. The Guiness Book Of World Records lists the museum as the the “World’s Largest Collection” devoted to any one fruit.
Originally in Altadena, the International Banana Club Museum is now sponsored by the City of Hesperia and is housed in the Harrison Exhibit Center. The museum is open Tuesdays, Thursdays, and the first Saturday of every month from 9am to 1pm. Your guide is Top Banana Glen Spears.
International Banana Club Museum
Harrison Exhibit Center
16367 Main Street
Hesperia, CA 92345
(760) 244-5488
www.bananaclub.com
