The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens, Research center and gardens in San Marino, California.
The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens is a research center and museum complex in San Marino, California, featuring collections of manuscripts, paintings, and plants from around the world. The outdoor grounds include over a dozen themed garden sections, while the indoor spaces offer galleries with portraits, furniture, and printed works spread across several buildings.
Henry Huntington began assembling his collection of rare books and paintings at his estate in the early 20th century, opening the site to the public in 1928. His wife Arabella contributed greatly to the art collection before the couple established the foundation that continues to manage the grounds today.
The estate preserves the vision of its founders, who wanted their home to serve future generations as a place for learning and quiet contemplation. Today, locals and travelers alike walk the paths between garden sections or pause in the galleries, often finding familiar works from centuries past displayed alongside pieces less widely known.
The complex closes on Tuesdays and opens from 10 AM to 5 PM on other days, with tickets that must be reserved in advance. Pathways between gardens include gentle slopes, and wheelchairs or strollers are available for loan at the entrance.
The library holds one of only eleven surviving vellum copies of the Gutenberg Bible from the 15th century. Handwritten documents from George Washington and Benjamin Franklin are also kept here, offering a window into the founding years of the United States.
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