The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens
A major library, art museum, and 120-acre botanical garden in San Marino, California
The Huntington in San Marino, California, combines a world-class library, art museum, and 120 acres of themed botanical gardens. Visitors can explore collections of rare books, European and American art, and gardens such as the Japanese, Desert, and Chinese gardens, all set on a historic estate.
- Features 120 acres of themed botanical gardens
- Houses rare books like a Gutenberg Bible and Chaucer's Ellesmere manuscript
- Displays iconic art such as Gainsborough's The Blue Boy
- Founded by Henry and Arabella Huntington in 1919
- Located in San Marino, near Los Angeles
What is The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens?
The Huntington is a public institution that brings together a research library, an art museum, and extensive botanical gardens. The gardens cover about 120 acres and feature specialized landscapes, including a Japanese Garden with traditional structures, a Desert Garden with cacti and succulents, and a Chinese Garden with pavilions and water features. The art galleries display European and American works, while the library houses rare books and manuscripts.
The history of The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens
Founded in 1919 by Henry E. Huntington and Arabella Huntington, the estate was originally a private ranch before becoming a public institution. The property was developed as a center for research, art, and horticulture, opening to the public in 1928 after Huntington's death. Over the years, it has expanded its collections and restored its historic buildings, becoming one of the wealthiest cultural institutions in the United States.
What there is to see
The botanical gardens are divided into themed sections, each designed and planted to reflect a specific region or style. The Japanese, Desert, and Chinese gardens are among the highlights, each with carefully selected plants and landscape features. The art museum is housed in the original Huntington residence and other galleries, while the library is in a separate Mediterranean Revival building.
When to go
Open to the public, The Huntington welcomes over a million visitors annually. People come to see the gardens in bloom, view art exhibitions, and attend educational programs. Scholars use the library's rare collections for research. The gardens and galleries are open year-round, with special events and exhibitions marking the calendar.
Parts and collections
The Huntington's gardens include several distinct areas: the Japanese Garden, Desert Garden, and Chinese Garden, each with its own plant collections and design. The art collections feature both European and American works, with galleries dedicated to each. The library's holdings span from medieval manuscripts to modern archives.
Why The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens matters
The Huntington is known for its role in research, education, and public enjoyment of art, literature, and horticulture. It is a landmark in Southern California, hosting exhibitions, scholarly events, and community programs. Its centennial in 2019 was marked by special exhibitions and a commemorative rose in the Rose Parade.
Plan a visit
Questions people ask about The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens
What is The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens?
It is a public institution in San Marino, California, that includes a major research library, art museum, and 120 acres of botanical gardens with themed landscapes.
Where is The Huntington located?
The Huntington is in San Marino, California, United States, near Los Angeles.
What can visitors see at The Huntington?
Visitors can explore themed gardens such as the Japanese, Desert, and Chinese gardens, view European and American art collections, and see rare books and manuscripts in the library.
When was The Huntington founded?
It was established in 1919 by Henry E. Huntington and Arabella Huntington, and opened to the public in 1928.
What is The Huntington known for?
It is known for its extensive botanical gardens, rare library collections, and important works of art, making it a major cultural and research center.
Good reading and sources
- Official websiteOfficial site
- Encyclopaedia BritannicaArticle
- American art gets a higher profile in U.S. museumsLos Angeles Times, Article
- Huntington Library on WikipediaEncyclopedia
- More photos on Wikimedia CommonsPhotos
- Wikidata recordOpen data
The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Huntington Library", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). Phool rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.
It may contain mistakes. Opening times, prices and bloom dates change: check with the place before you travel. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-03.
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