Phineas Banning

Biography

Phineas Banning's restless energy transformed a remote Southern California valley into the beating heart of a new transportation network; he built stagecoach lines, warehouses, and shipping facilities that linked the region to the wider nation and earned him the title "Father of the Port of Los Angeles."

He channeled his prosperity back into schools, churches, and support for newcomers, always insisting that the harbor's success reflected the shared labors of neighbors, a spirit remembered at Angelus-Rosedale Cemetery.