Visiting the Huntington Library and Gardens
Hey guys welcome back to a new post of The Leslie Life! This past weekend, I visited The Huntington, a library, museum, and botanical garden that is a hidden oasis in Los Angeles.
Although the library/museum are not open due to COVID, the gardens are and they are completely worth your time if you are looking for a safe social distancing activity.
I visited a few years ago and was enamored by the beauty of the gardens, so when my friend Jenny suggested the activity I was definitely onboard! Jenny, my other friend Brigitte and I hopped into my car and made the trip to San Marino, a wealthy LA suburb where The Huntington is located.
Here’s what it was like:
First and foremost, you will be taken aback by how massive this place is. Every inch is green and beautiful. They have multiple different gardens that include a rose garden (pictured above), a Japanese garden (pictured below), and a Chinese garden.
This place is all about enjoying the outdoors. I truly have not seen a more green place in Los Angeles. You will spend quite a bit of time walking around enjoying the scenery.
There is something incredibly relaxing about The Huntington. There are fountains, flowers, animals, and different types of architecture.
There’s also plenty of grassy areas for picnics (you are able to bring your own food), making it an ideal spot for al fresco dining.
But of course, I have to bring in some history to tell the entire story. The Huntington is the former residence of Henry E. Huntington and his wife Arabella. Henry was a railroad magnate who formed the Pacific Electric Railway, a contributing factor that led Los Angeles to flourish. The gif below is of their home.
Obviously, Henry and his wife were loaded. They collected rare books and art and eventually amassed an extensive collection. In 1919, they signed a document that ensured their private estate would become a public one. In 1928, a year after Henry’s death, The Huntington opened to the public.
Before I get into the details of visiting The Huntington, I wanted to list some cool facts I found from this LA Mag article:
The Huntington holds one of only two known copies of the first published version of Shakespeare’s Hamlet
When Henry Huntington was asked if he would ever write an autobiography he replied that “This library will tell the story”
The library houses the oldest cookbook (printed in 1475) and a lock of Abraham Lincoln’s hair
They also have a handwritten note Lincoln wrote to his bodyguard giving him the night off the day he was shot
Henry’s wife Arabella, was actually his uncle’s wife until his death in 1900. Henry and Arabella married in 1913
Henry and Arabella are buried in a mausoleum on the grounds of the Huntington
In 1905, Henry purchased 90% of my hometown of Redondo Beach
He later brought Hawaiian surfer George Freeth to Redondo to promote a plunge (a giant pool) and introduced surfing to the United States
At one point, Arabella was one of the world’s richest woman
I hope you guys enjoyed some of those historical facts, now let’s get into some information you should know before visiting!
The Huntington is located at 1151 Oxford Rd in San Marino, CA
They are open every day from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Before visiting, you must reserve and buy advance tickets online
Tickets are made available each Tuesday at noon for the following week
Prices range from $21-$29. Tickets are lower during the weekdays. I used my old student ID to purchase a weekend ticket for $24
The entire experience from beginning to end completely adheres to social distancing protocols
They check your temperature and have a contactless ticket scanner
It is VERY hot in San Marino; make sure to bring water as there are no water fountains available
An onsite cafe called 1919 also has some cold drinks and food. They also offer plenty of spacious outdoor seating
Bathrooms are also available and impressively clean
No one can enter without a mask and in general, the gardens were not very busy
For more info, check out their site
