Skip to main content
Usitour
Museum

Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens

📍 1151 Oxford Rd, San Marino, CA, USA
No photos yet
4.3/ 5.0
★★★★☆

Quick Facts

Location
USA, Los Angeles
Category
Museum
Duration
2-3 hours
Address
1151 Oxford Rd, San Marino, CA, USA
Coordinates
34.1282, -118.1146

Introduction

The Huntington Library, Art Collections and Botanical Gardens is one of Los Angeles's most renowned cultural institutions, established by railroad magnate Henry Huntington in 1919. The 207-acre estate houses over 500,000 rare books and manuscripts, 420,000 European and American artworks, and over 140,000 plants across 13 themed gardens. Library treasures include the Gutenberg Bible, Shakespeare's First Folio, Franklin's autobiography manuscript, and Lincoln's Gettysburg Address draft, making it one of North America's most important rare book libraries. The art gallery holds 18th-19th century European portrait masterpieces including Gainsborough's Blue Boy and Lawrence's Pinkie. The botanical gardens span 13 themed areas including Desert, Japanese, Chinese, Rose, and Herb gardens, representing Southern California's finest plant displays. The estate perfectly merges scholarly research, art appreciation, and natural beauty, a must-visit cultural shrine in Los Angeles.

✨ Highlights

1
Rare Book Library
Holds the Gutenberg Bible, Shakespeare's First Folio, and Lincoln's Gettysburg Address draft, one of North America's most important rare book and manuscript research institutions.
2
European Portrait Masterpieces
The art gallery holds Gainsborough's Blue Boy and Lawrence's Pinkie, 18th-19th century European portrait masterpieces, the most important British portrait collection outside Britain.
3
13 Themed Botanical Gardens
The 120-acre botanical garden includes Japanese, Chinese, Desert, Rose, and 9 other themed gardens, Southern California's finest plant and landscape art display.
4
Japanese and Chinese Gardens
The Japanese Garden features zen dry landscape and tea house; the Chinese Garden Liu Fang Yuan is the largest Suzhou-style garden overseas, showcasing Eastern aesthetics in California.
5
Rose and Herb Gardens
The Rose Garden has over 1,200 rose varieties; the Herb Garden gathers global culinary and medicinal plants, a paradise for horticulture enthusiasts.
6
Estate Architecture and History
The 1919 Huntington mansion preserves the original Gilded Age lifestyle and cultural taste of Southern California's wealthy elite.

🛈 Practical Info

→Location：1151 Oxford Avenue, San Marino, about 20 km from downtown LA
→Recommended Duration：4-6 hours; full day for in-depth library, art, and garden tour
→Best Time to Visit：Thursday free day requires advance reservation; March-May spring bloom is most beautiful
→Opening Hours：Wednesday-Monday 10:00-17:00, closed Tuesday; Thursday free day requires reservation
→Ticket Information：Weekdays $25, weekends and holidays $29, seniors and students $25, under 4 free
→Transportation：About 30 minutes drive from downtown; Metro bus 78 or 26

💡 Tips

• The first Thursday monthly is free but requires online reservation; spots are limited, so book 1-2 weeks ahead.
• The grounds are too large for one visit; choose based on interest: literature lovers prioritize the library, art fans the portraits, garden enthusiasts the botanical gardens.
• Different seasons feature different gardens: spring roses, summer desert blooms, autumn Japanese garden foliage, winter camellias. Check bloom info before visiting.
• The grounds have cafes and tea rooms; the Chinese Garden Liu Fang Yuan tea room serves Chinese tea and snacks, ideal for midday rest.
• Huntington is in San Marino; combine with Old Pasadena and Norton Simon Museum for a northeast LA day trip.

FAQ

What are the opening hours of Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens?

Wednesday-Monday 10:00-17:00, closed Tuesday; Thursday free day requires reservation

How much is the admission for Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens?

Weekdays $25, weekends and holidays $29, seniors and students $25, under 4 free

Any practical tips for visiting Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens?

The first Thursday monthly is free but requires online reservation; spots are limited, so book 1-2 weeks ahead. The grounds are too large for one visit; choose based on interest: literature lovers prioritize the library, art fans the portraits, garden enthusiasts the botanical gardens.

How long should I spend at Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens?

A typical visit takes 2-3 hours.