Huntington Library, Art Collections and Botanical Gardens

Also known simply as "The Huntington," the private, nonprofit Huntington Library, Art Collections and Botanical Gardens stands as one of the world's greatest centers for culture, research, and education. It was established in 1919 by businessman Henry E. Huntington, whose interest in books, art, and horticulture knew no bounds. His desire was to create a world-class research library, along with a splendid collection of art alongside botanical gardens filled with plants from around the globe.

The result is something that few institutions, public or private, can rival. The library holds some six million items, including some of the rarest books and finest manuscripts of Anglo-American civilization. Scholars travel here from all over the world to access it archives, which include a Gutenberg Bible on vellum, the Ellesmere manuscript of Chaucer's Canterbury Tales, and much, much more.

Likewise, the three separate art galleries at the Huntington boast masterpieces of 18th- and 19th-century British and French art, including Gainsborough's Blue Boy and Lawrence's Pinkie. The Botanical Gardens cover 120 acres, divided into more than a dozen specialized gardens surrounded by rolling lawns. Noteworthy are the Desert Garden, the Japanese Garden, the Rose Garden, and the Chinese garden.

The Huntington Library, Art Collections and Botanical Gardens is located at 1151 Oxford Road, San Marino, CA 91108. Hours of operation are from 10:30am to 4:30pm on weekends and noon to 4:40pm all other days except Tuesdays, when the facilities are closed. Admission is free to the public.