The Bunny Museum in Altadena Receives More Than 1,000 Items From Wisconsin Family

The Bunny Museum in Altadena, billed as “The Hoppiest Place in the World,” got a little extra spring in its step with the donation of more than 1,000 rabbit-related items from a family in Wisconsin, the museum announced Monday.

The treasure of items, ranging from figurines to paintings, will join the world record-setting collection of well over 40,000 pieces of bunny-related memorabilia, the museum said in a written statement.

The new additions were donated by the family of Jane Haugh Ringeisen, who died on May 28 at the age of 68, according to the museum.

“As a lover of all animals, Jane’s passion for bunnies began?in 1993 after she adopted ‘Smokey,’ a black Netherland dwarf,” the statement said. “Having no children, Jane and her husband, Don, babied Smokey.”

“Started with a few figurines, Jane’s bunny collection multiplied into over 1,000 including Bunnykins, My Blushing Bunnies, Fitz & Floyd, Cottontail Lane, and original artworks,” the statement said.

Ringeisen’s sister Nancy Haugh Fowler of Minnesota said the family was glad to make the donation.

“[I’m] grateful for the opportunity to honor my sister Jane Haugh Ringeisen and to keep her amazing collection together at The Bunny Museum,” she said.

The Bunny Museum Co-Founders Steve Lubanski and Candace Frazee traveled to Wisconsin to collect the items.

“That was only feasible because the coronavirus pandemic temporarily closed the museum March 19,” the statement said.

The museum planned to reopen once California enters Tier 4 in the state’s COVID-19 recovery framework.

More information on The Bunny Museum, 2605 Lake Ave. in Altadena, is available on the museum website at thebunnymuseum.com.

Bunny Museum Hops Up to Altadena