Guide To The Huntington Library & Gardens
Famous for it's breathtaking gardens, the renowned Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens includes two beautiful permanent-collection art galleries, a library that offers the public a look at rare books and manuscripts, outdoor sculptures and so much more to take in for visitors. From scholars to strollers, there's something to appeal to just about everyone in this beautiful spot.
The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, CA 91108
(626) 405-2100
www.huntington.org
The Library
The elegant Library at the Huntington holds almost 9 million manuscripts, books, and photographs. Among the most impressive aspects of this collection is a Gutenberg Bible dating to 1455, original letters from Abraham Lincoln, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and the Ellesmere manuscript of Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales (ca. 1410). Science, technology, and the history of the American West are also all well-represented here, and offer great appeal to visiting scholars as well as the general public.
Art Galleries
Housed in what was once a Beaux Arts mansion built for Henry and Arabella Huntington at the turn of the century, this art museum contains an impressive collection of classics including Thomas Gainsborough's The Blue Boy, Joshua Reynolds' Sarah Siddons as the Tragic Muse, and a wide range of works in the French decorative arts, paintings from the Renaissance era, and paintings by John Constable, J. M. W. Turner, and Anthony Van Dyck.
Once you've crossed the Shakespeare Garden, explore the Virginia Steele Scott Galleries of American Art, where both classic and contemporary works of American art are featured, including works by Mary Cassatt, John Singer Sargent, and Andy Warhol.
Make sure to head to the Susan and Stephen Chandler Wing of the Scott Galleries where you'll get to experience traveling and focused exhibitions. In addition, the Works on Paper Room of the Huntington Art Gallery, and the MaryLou and George Boone Gallery, located in what was once the Huntington family's garage hold incredible exhibits not to be missed.
The Gardens
One of the major reasons people from all over Los Angeles and the world visit The Huntington Library is for their incredible Botanical Gardens. The gardens include a number of themed areas, including the delicate beauty of the Japanese Garden, the Rose Garden, the Jungle Garden, and the Australian Garden among many others. In the Garden of Flowing Fragrance, visitors will find a lake, bridge, and tea house all crafted by Chinese artisans. Inside the Desert Garden you'll find almost 4,000 types of desert plants as well. Great for the whole family, the Helen and Peter Bing Children's Garden is an interactive one-acre garden designed to engage children.
Ticket Information
The Library is closed on Tuesdays, but visitors are free to visit on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday from 12 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. and from 10:30 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. From Memorial Day through Labor Day, the Huntington opens at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday as well.
Looking to visit for free? The Huntington Library and Gardens is open to the public with no admission fee on the first Thursday of every month with advance tickets.
For ticket information and pricing, visit huntington.org
Huntington Gardens Tea Room
1151 Oxford Rd.
San Marino, CA 91108
(626) 405-2100
Located on the Huntington Library & Museum property, this elegant tea room looks out over the beautiful Rose Garden. Take part in a beautiful buffet spread provides with delightful finger sandwiches and salads. Diners are also served tea and scones. Mini-desserts from the buffet will also have you drooling.
San Marino Seafood
2150 Huntington Dr.
San Marino, CA 91108
(626) 943-8862
www.sanmarinoseafood.com
San Marino Seafood is a friendly neighborhood seafood restaurant which icnludes a pretty patio for al fresco dining, and a fresh seafood market. Fresh seafood dishes of all kinds are a delight in this airy and casual spot, and it's famous for its bucket of clams or mussels, smoked salmon plate, and clam chowder bowls.
