The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens

The Huntington Library, Art Museum and Botanical Garden (Huntington for short) is a collection based educational and research institution founded by Henry E. Huntington (1850-1927) and Arabella Huntington (1851-1924) and located in San Marino, California, USA. Huntington is a research and cultural center surrounded by 120 acres scattered across 12 specialized gardens. Originally the private estate of railroad magnate Henry Huntington, it is one of Southern California's most visited cultural sites with magnificent collections of rare books, manuscripts and famous works of art, including Gainsborough's The Blue Boy, Mary Cassatt's Breakfast in Bed, The Gutenberg Bible, an illustrated manuscript of Chaucer's Canterbury Tales and a first folio edition of Shakespeare.The main library, which holds more than six million items, most of which are open only to researchers. Some of his most famous collections, including the Gutenberg Bible and the earliest known edition of Chaucer's Canterbury Tales, are always on display in the adjacent exhibition hall along with regular themed temporary shows. The art collection is almost as remarkable as the library collection. In addition to the library, the institution houses an extensive art collection with an emphasis on European art of the 18th and 19th centuries and American art of the 17th and mid 20th centuries. The main building, built in 1910, houses a very impressive collection of British art, including Gainsborough's The Blue Boy and works by Blake, Reynolds and Turner. And in the newer Scott and Erbour galleries you will find a collection of American paintings.

The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens in California offers a rich blend of culture, art, and nature. Its vast library holds rare manuscripts, while the art museum showcases European and American masterpieces. The diverse gardens, from serene Japanese to vibrant desert landscapes, are a visual delight, making it a perfect retreat for all.

The Huntington is a research and cultural center surrounded by 120 acres spread across 12 specialized gardens. Originally the private estate of railroad magnate Henry Huntington, it is one of Southern California's must-see cultural destinations with magnificent collections of rare books, manuscripts, and famous works of art including Gainsborough's "The Blue Boy," Mary Cassatt's "Breakfast in Bed," a Gutenberg Bible, an illuminated manuscript of Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales, and a First Folio edition of Shakespeare.

So peaceful and serene, there is so much to see and take in (the flowers smell lovely too!) The gardens really transport you to another world, it's very moving.

We spent 2 hours visiting the gorgeous Japanese and Chinese gardens and was blown away by the scale and magnificence of our surroundings. recommended