What happens when a Valentine’s Day gift sparks a decades-long obsession that earns a Guinness World Record? You get one of the most wonderfully bizarre attractions in all of Southern California. The Bunny Museum first opened to the public in 1998 in Pasadena, California, and quickly became a bucket-list destination for curious travelers, rabbit lovers, and anyone who appreciates the glorious absurdity of human passion taken to its furthest extreme.
The building was destroyed by the Eaton Fire in early 2025, but the museum plans to reopen. The museum’s building, original collection, and exhibits were destroyed in the fire, though its live animals were safely evacuated — and founders Candace Frazee and Steve Lubanski announced their intention to rebuild the very next day. A beloved institution of the greater Pasadena area, this is a place that leaves every single visitor with a story they’ll be telling for years.
The Remarkable Origin Story
On Valentine’s Day 1993, Steve Lubanski gifted Candace with a single bunny memento — and after they married in 1994, the gifting became a daily habit between the duo, a ritual that apparently still stands to this day. What began as an intimate, romantic tradition between two people snowballed into something no one could have predicted. What started as a whimsical token of their affection soon grew into a friendly competition to find the most unique and delightful bunny items, with their private collection rapidly expanding from a few cherished pieces to thousands, overtaking their Pasadena home.
The museum formally opened to the public on March 20, 1998, with a collection of approximately 7,000 pieces of bunny goodness — and it would only take a year for Guinness World Records to take note, certifying it as housing the most bunny items in the world on August 6, 1999. In 2017, after the collection grew to over 34,000 bunny-themed items, they moved the museum to a former art gallery space in its Altadena location, giving the ever-expanding wonderland the room it truly deserved.
What You’ll Find Inside
Prior to 2025, the museum held more than 40,550 rabbit-related items across 16 galleries in a 7,000 square foot space. The sheer scale of what’s on display is genuinely staggering. Visitors are delighted by the variety and quantity of collectibles, including statues, plushies, books, puzzles, cartoon characters, taxidermied rabbits, and even food items featuring rabbits. Around every corner, you’ll discover something you never expected to find in bunny form.
The Bunny Museum tells the history of bunnies in advertising, art, entertainment, fashion, film, and everyday vernacular — making it far more substantive than you might expect walking in. Many visitors are amazed to discover how influential the bunny has been throughout history and across cultures. The bunny-shaped information plaques scattered throughout the galleries add a genuinely educational layer to what might otherwise feel like pure spectacle.
From giant Rose Parade float bunnies to ancient rabbit-themed items from 20 centuries ago, the museum is an amazing expression of the love and passion of Candace Frazee and Steve Lubanski for one another and for all things “bunny.” The collection alone includes 9 Rose Parade float bunnies — massive, awe-inspiring pieces that serve as some of the most dramatic centerpieces in the entire space.
There is also the “Chamber of Hop Horrors,” not open to younger children, showcasing the more disturbing side of bunny experience and portrayals. This darker exhibit educates visitors about bunny abuse in experimentation and the appearance of rabbits in horror cinema. It’s a surprisingly thoughtful and sobering counterpoint to the rest of the museum’s cheerful energy — and a reminder that this place takes the full spectrum of rabbit culture seriously.
The museum also offers a non-fiction film about bunnies and has a lovely patio area for relaxation. Guests can also interact with live bunnies and cats on-site. Stumbling across a real, free-roaming rabbit nestled between thousands of ceramic and plush ones is a genuinely surreal and delightful moment that visitors consistently remember.
Atmosphere & What It Feels Like
While creating a museum dedicated solely to rabbits might not be too strange in concept, the magic is really in the execution — there are bunnies in every crevice, every corner, and every window. The density of it all is part of the charm. It’s overwhelming in the best possible way, like stepping into another dimension where one obsession has been given infinite room to breathe and grow.
While it might not be the most beautifully displayed museum — it’s more akin to a hoarder’s house — it IS the most extensive, interesting collection under one niche category that many visitors have ever witnessed. That raw, unpolished energy is a big part of what makes the place so memorable and so unlike anything a traditional museum can offer. Most visitors stay over an hour — some all afternoon — and there is an outdoor patio for resting as well as indoor chairs.
The Bunny Museum has been featured in Guinness World Records, Ripley’s Believe It Or Not!, Smithsonian Magazine, and an episode of “Visiting with Huell Howser,” and yet it still manages to feel like a hidden gem — a personal, intimate experience that hasn’t been polished into a tourist product. That authenticity is irreplaceable.
Other Considerations
What’s the admission price? Admission is $12 for ages 13 and up, $10 for seniors 65+ and military with ID, $8 for ages 5–12, and free for children 4 and under. For what you get — a Guinness World Record–certified collection, live animals, and a genuinely one-of-a-kind experience — it’s a very reasonable price of entry.
Can I bring my kids? Children are welcome, but they are not the target audience. The museum tells the history of bunnies in advertising, art, entertainment, fashion, film, and everyday vernacular — and the Chamber of Hop Horrors is recommended for ages 13 and up. Younger children who love animals will still enjoy spotting the live bunnies roaming around, but the deeper experience is best appreciated by older visitors.
Anything I should know before visiting? Pet bunnies are allowed inside but must be carried, and while live bunnies and cats can be seen inside, this is not a petting zoo. The museum does not allow personal purses and backpacks inside, so plan to leave them in the car or store them in provided lockers. It’s a small but important thing to know ahead of time so it doesn’t catch you off guard.
Is the museum currently open? The building was destroyed by the Eaton Fire in early 2025, but the museum plans to reopen. A GoFundMe campaign was created to go towards rebuilding the museum at the previous site, raising over $56,000 as of February 2025. According to co-founder Candace Frazee, thousands upon thousands of messages arrived from around the world from individuals wanting to send bunnies to the new museum — and as of late January 2025, over 150 bunny items had already been received, with several major collections promised. Check the official website for the most current updates on the reopening timeline.
How do I get there, and is parking easy? Street parking is typically available in the surrounding neighborhood — be mindful of any posted signs regarding parking restrictions or street cleaning days. It’s usually fairly easy to find a spot, but on busy days, you might have to walk a block or two.
The Bunny Museum
📍 2605 N Lake Ave, Altadena, CA 91001
Website: https://www.thebunnymuseum.com
