Within the ever so vibrant heart of the sun-soaked city of San Marino, California, nestles a rare jewel radiating magic, The Huntington- Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens. As a remarkable manifestation of art, nature, and history, this cultural landmark is born out of visionary Henry E. Huntington’s insatiable passion for collecting an extensive array of artefacts and his desire to share his gathered treasures. A question arises how did it come into existence?
Let’s embark on a journey through time and marvel at the creation of this beauty.
We are in the era of the Gilded Age of America (1870-1900), Post Civil War- the arrival of the first transcontinental rail line in California brought waves of western migration and boosted the city’s growth, creating endless opportunities.
Henry Huntington collided with his Uncle Colin Huntington, one of the four founders of the Central Pacific Railroad System. He travelled through Southern California in 1892, planning to expand the railroads business and seize opportunities in the region. It was during this time Henry stayed at the ranch residence of James De Barth Shorb and felt an irresistible pull towards this beguiling land.
Credits- Huntington Archives
“All that was necessary to capture me was my first visit to Southern California”. – Henry Huntington.
Eleven years after his visit in 1903, Henry bought the magnificent San Marino Ranch, 12 miles away from downtown Los Angeles. He hired the landscape architect William Hertrich, who developed an array of plant collections that serve as the foundation of the botanical gardens today.
Botanical Gardens
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Encompassing around 130 acres of land and featuring over a dozen themed gardens, this ethereal dreamscape allures visitors with its distinct charm and collection of diverse plant species.
Interestingly, the Botanical garden boasts an impressive 800 tree species from California and far-off lands, offering an eccentric display of foliage from all across the globe.
Desert Garden
Housing one of the largest outdoor collections of Cacti and Succulents in the world, this garden was the first one to be developed in 1907. Being well over a century old, with more than a thousand species of arid-adapted plants, the garden creates a stark contrast with its surroundings. Walking through it is like travelling to an alternate realm, imbued with the mystic beauty of the desert flora, sculpted rock formations and otherworldly plants.
Looks fascinating doesn’t it?
Japanese Garden
Uncover serenity through the Japanese Garden, one of the most iconic and beloved areas of Huntington, where striking moon bridge, bonsai trees, green pines and bamboo mixed with enchanting seasonal hues of cherry blossoms welcome you. Centred around the astonishing Koi ponds, the Japanese House is crafted with meticulous architectural elements from Japan that have been restored and is recognised as one of the finest examples of early twentieth-century Japanese architecture in the US.
Credits- Huntington Archives
With picturesque postcard views, this exotic nine-acre Japanese Garden is a sight to behold!
Next up is the most fanciful garden; the Rose Garden, a show-stopper with more than 1,300 varieties on display in Huntington.
Rose Garden
Spread across three acres, the Rose Garden, with its imposing paths and sweeping vistas, makes for a breathtaking setting for any occasion. The luscious gardens bestow seasonal colours and fragrances of roses between late March right through till Thanksgiving. Originally, it was designed for Henry E. and Arabella Huntington to provide abundant elegant bouquets for the grandiose arrangements in their house.
Special events, weddings, and corporate dinners are hosted amidst the rose garden, making it an unforgettable setting.
Chinese Garden
Reminiscent of natural beauty, wisdom, and whimsical culture, the spectacular 15-acre Garden of Flowing Fragrance, or Liu Fang Yuan, is filled with magnificent features enhanced by beloved literature and art. These gardens offer musical recitals and lectures and hold exhibitions seeking knowledge and innovation in the urban living environment. The inspiring landscape, with alluring plants and exquisite architecture, evokes a sense of peaceful contemplation.
Crafted masterfully by artisans from Suzhou, China, the tile work in the garden and the gourd-shaped window frames lend an artful element to the space, adding beauty and authenticity.
From the unique flora of Australia and Subtropical Gardens to the medicinal Herb Garden, or the charming Shakespeare Garden with its roots intertwined with his literary works, these wonders offer an eccentric experience – a glimpse into the incredible biodiversity of the space.
Continuing the adventure, there is more to this vibrant world than meets the eye; The Huntington Library. Attracting all the history connoisseurs with its immaculate wealth of over a million artefacts.
After transferring his business to Los Angeles, the land of sunshine and avocados, Henry’s electric railway business soared, establishing him as a railroad tycoon. His profound love for books and literature began increasing his collection rapidly, acquiring thousands of titles and manuscripts that led to the genesis of the Library in 1919.
Initially serving as a private archive, The Huntington Library opened to the public in 1924 with a pursuit to empower and enrich scholars, researchers, and creative workers in learning history, literature, arts and science.
The Huntington Library
Renowned across the globe as an independent centre for research, the library proudly boasts an extensive collection of nearly 11 million items that span from the 11th to the 21st centuries. The repository houses chronicles from distinct civilizations: from American history, architecture to British past and English literature, maps and mediaeval manuscripts, including the notable Ellesmere manuscript of Chaucer’s “The Canterbury Tales”.
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Want to know a mind-blowing fact? Books printed prior to the year 1501, are known as incunabula, the library holds an assemblage of over 5400 incunabula collections.
But the crowning jewel of the Huntington Library is the Gutenberg Bible, one of the few surviving copies and the first substantial book printed in 1455, using the trailblazing technique of movable type. It stands as a testament to the library’s unwavering commitment to safeguarding invaluable pieces of history.
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“What’s past is prologue” – William Shakespeare
In addition to these treasures, the Huntington holds a gigantic collection of English poets and novelists, Renaissance writings, and the first editions of William Shakespeare’s books, making it a wellspring of knowledge.
Now after settling permanently here, Henry Hungtinton hired the established architects Myron Hunt and Elmer Grey to build his dream home. By then, he formed a deep
connection with his Uncle’s widow, Arabella, an avid art tastemaker herself. She became a driving force behind Henry’s remarkable collection, which started to take form with his sights focused on procuring French and British portraits from the illustrious 18th century.
The Art Museum
Similar to the extensive collection of the library, the Art Museum features a stately archive of over 42,000 exquisite items, including drawings, paintings, art, photography, prints, and sculpture.
To honour the legacy of Henry E. and Arabella, the European art treasures find their rightful place within their palatial abode, covering a wide range of styles from the 15th to the early 20th century. It showcases masterpieces glided in frames from renowned artists such as Thomas Gainsborough’s (“The Blue Boy”), Joshua Reynolds, as well as John Constable that enthrals visitors with emotions and perceptions and transcends into the bygone era.
With a massive collection of 1,400 decorative art objects and more than 320 stunning paintings, the American gallery presents a panoramic picture of artistic evolution through the ages.
Architecture
The architecture of the Huntington’s building, including the luxurious mansion (now the art gallery), Library and mausoleum, exudes the Beaux-Art charm, a tribute to early 20th-century architectural style. The Beaux-art designed buildings feature symmetry, proportion, and an amalgamation of Classic Roman and Greek elements such as columns, pediments, and balustrades. With a flamboyant touch of French and Italian Renaissance, the Beaux-art style is sometimes referred to as American Renaissance. It emerged during the Gilded Age of the United States and became a signature style for sumptuous private mansions, libraries, museums, and other institutional buildings.
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Do you know? Several Hollywood movies have been filmed at the Huntington Library and Gardens, including Iron Man and Star Trek series.
The Library reflects an elegance of form and function. Adorned with symmetry, ornately crafted ceilings and intricate details, Library gracefully presents a visually pleasing sight, creating a warm and inviting ambience that fosters intellectual growth and a sense of peace.
Credits- Huntington Archives
Designed by architect Myron Hunt, Huntington’s Palace’s distinguished features include splendid Ionic columns that speak of timeless architectural beauty. Surrounded by immaculately manicured gardens, the majestically crafted interiors with decorative ceilings and refined wood panelling imbues sophistication.
Research and Educational Programs
Nestled within the picturesque grounds of Huntington lies the Research and Fellowship Institute which provides a wealth of resources to scholars of various disciplines from all corners of the globe. This esteemed research centre promotes advanced humanities scholarship through an extensive program of lectures, workshops, seminars, and conferences in the field of science, technology, medicine, and art while expanding the boundaries of literature and history.
An Astonishing Wonder!
As the world is navigating towards digitisation, remote work environments, and advancements in the AI and robotics industry, this paradigm shift is raising questions on our existence while devoiding human activity and social connections. The Huntington shines as a dynamic space awakening our senses of preserving our shared literature, celebrating creativity and cultural heritage while embracing the future.
