The property is one of Southern
California's top museum attractions
which combines an art museum,
significant displays and archives of
valuable, historical documents, and
grounds that contain an estate house
plus 12 themed gardens spanning
120 acres. More than 14,000
varieties of plants are cared for
by 40 gardeners and more than 100
volunteers! Among the grounds you can
see these themed areas that are a
highlight to any visit: Australian
Garden, Camellia Garden, Children's Garden, Chinese Garden, Garden Conservatory, Desert Garden, Herb Garden, Japanese Garden, Jungle Garden, Lily Ponds, Palm Garden, Rose Garden, Shakespeare Garden,
and Subtropical Garden.
Over 100 years ago in 1878, Don Benito
Wilson owned this prime parcel of land
and ran a 600 acre ranch which his
son-in-law, James de Barth Shorb called
"San Marino" in honor of his birthplace
in Maryland.
De Barth Shorb
sold the ranch in 1903 to Henry E. Huntington,
a name known throughout the
West. Huntington was a successful
entrepreneur who built an
electric rail transportation system in
Southern California, sat on the boards
of 60 corporations and developed
commercial properties in one of the
nation's fastest growing regions.
Huntington loved the San Marin0
estate and lived there with Arabella,
his wife--eventually in semi-retirement
operating the ranch established
by his predecessors. As he aged, he sold
off more than half of the land which was
parceled into immaculate estates and
fine homes surrounding his estate. Henry and wife, Arabella, worked side by side to build a mansion,
increase their collections of
manuscripts and art and create one of
the finest estates any where.
Blue Boy and Pinkie at Huntington
Library Are Top Tourist Attractions.
In 1919, the couple signed an indenture
which transferred their San Marino
estate with its collections of art and
books, to a non-profit educational
trust. Huntington died in 1927 and Huntington Library, Art Collections and
Botanical Gardens opened to the public
a year later in 1928.
The Huntington Library, Art
Collections, and Botanical Gardens is an
educational and cultural center with 150 acres
of breathtaking gardens. Three art
galleries and a library showcase
collections of rare books and
manuscripts, 18th and 19th century
British and French art, and American art
from the 18th to the early 20th century.
The private, nonprofit institution is
supported by gifts from individuals,
corporations, foundations, and
government agencies, and by a private
endowment that provides about 50% of the
institution's annual budget. See:
Huntington Library: 1151 Oxford Rd, San Marino, CA. Visitors: 626-286-1022.
huntington.org