The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens Museum

Address: 1151 Oxford Road, San Marino, CA 91108, USA

Website: https://www.huntington.org

Hours: Typically Wed-Mon 10am-5pm, closed Tuesdays (confirm on site before visiting)

Admission: Adult general admission approximately $30 (discounts for youth/seniors; members free) - check site for current rates

The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens is a cultural complex in San Marino, California, founded by Henry E. Huntington and opened to the public in the early 20th century. The institution unites a research library, art collections, and extensive themed gardens on a single estate.

The library holds rare books and manuscripts and supports scholarly research; the art galleries emphasize British and American works on paper, painting, and decorative arts. The botanical gardens include a series of themed gardens and collections spread across the estate, with notable displays such as the Rose Garden and large Desert Garden among the most-visited areas.

The institution grew from Henry Huntington’s collecting and estate development and was established as a public research and horticultural resource. Over the 20th century the holdings and gardens expanded into the complex open to visitors today.

The Huntington is located in San Marino in Los Angeles County, east of Pasadena and roughly a short drive northeast of central Los Angeles.

• Visit time: The estate combines a research library, art galleries, and more than 100 acres of themed botanical gardens on a single campus, so allocate a full day to see major highlights.
• Best time to visit: Peak displays vary by season - roses in late spring and many specialty collections at peak bloom at different times of year, so check seasonal highlights before visiting.

What to See#

• The Library: A research library and rare-book collection that supports humanities scholarship and houses rare manuscripts, archives, and early printed books.
• Art galleries: The Huntington Art Gallery with collections focused on British and American painting, sculpture, and decorative arts from the 18th to early 20th centuries.
• Botanical gardens: The Chinese garden (Liu Fang Yuan) and multiple themed botanical gardens including the Rose Garden and Desert Garden that span extensive planted acreage.

The Huntington is in San Marino, adjacent to Pasadena in the Los Angeles area. By car it is most easily reached from central Pasadena (a short drive of a few miles) or from downtown Los Angeles (roughly 10-15 miles east depending on route and traffic; travel time varies widely). The Huntington provides on-site visitor parking; public-transit connections exist from Pasadena and surrounding cities but many visitors find driving the most convenient-check local transit operators for current bus connections if you prefer not to drive.

• Reserve timed-entry tickets online before you visit-weekends and special exhibitions commonly sell out and advance booking prevents disappointment.
• Start your visit with one of the specialty gardens (the Chinese Garden or the Desert Garden are good choices) early in the day when they're least crowded and lighting is best for photos.
• Check the Huntington's website for opening and closing times for the library and galleries before you go-some indoor spaces have different hours than the gardens, so plan your route accordingly.