'World's Largest Rabbit Museum' Hit by LA Wildfire... 40 Years of Treasured Items Reduced to Ashes

A Museum Built from Rabbit Collectibles
Owner Tried to Extinguish the Flames, but It Was Ultimately Destroyed

A fire that broke out in Los Angeles (LA), California, USA, reduced the local landmark 'Rabbit Museum' to ashes. The museum owner was devastated but vowed to rebuild the museum.

Steve Rubansky and Candice Frazee, the couple who operate the Rabbit Museum, certified by the Guinness World Records in September 2024 for owning the largest collection of rabbit-themed items in the world. Guinness World Records

According to local media including the Los Angeles Times on the 12th, the Rabbit Museum located on Lake Avenue in Altadena, northern LA, was engulfed by flames. Steve Rubansky, who runs the museum, personally attempted to extinguish the fire at the time.

However, as the flames spread, the couple operating the museum had to escape with only a few of the most important rabbit items, including the rabbit doll they first gifted each other, their pet rabbits 'Doris' and 'Nikki', and their cat.

Rubansky, who tried to put out the fire holding a fire hose himself, appeared in an interview with local media with a devastated expression, making viewers feel even more sorrowful. Standing in front of the camera with disheveled hair and soot marks all over his face, Rubansky choked up and said, "The entire symbolic Altadena Old Town has disappeared for us. I don't think this shock will fade for a while," adding, "My wife and I spent nearly 40 years completing this museum. Although this happened, we will keep moving forward."

His wife, Candice Frazee, also promised via social media that they would rebuild the Rabbit Museum at the same location.

The Rabbit Museum was run by Steve Rubansky and Candice Frazee, a couple who had been collecting and exhibiting rabbit-related items for nearly 40 years. The couple, who affectionately called each other 'Bunny', started gifting rabbit-shaped items to each other and gradually accumulated related collectibles, which eventually led to the museum. Their collection exceeds 46,000 items. The couple, who gathered various rabbit-related goods, were even listed in the Guinness World Records for 'the largest collection of rabbit memorabilia in the world.'

Among the exhibits were hundreds of miniature ceramic rabbits, rabbit dolls including the first one Rubansky gifted to Frazee, T-shirts with rabbit illustrations, cookie jars shaped like pottery, movie posters related to rabbits such as "Who Framed Roger Rabbit," rabbit costumes, and books featuring rabbits.

The Rabbit Museum in Altadena burned down by the wildfire in Los Angeles (LA), USA. Photo by LA Times

Meanwhile, the LA wildfire continues to spread even after five days without showing signs of calming down. Authorities, with support from the federal government and others, are working hard to control the fire, but the containment rate remains in the 10% range. Strong winds and other factors are intensifying the fire again, making firefighting efforts difficult, according to reports.