Primarily established as an educational and research institution, the Huntington Library must be part of your itinerary when you visit Pasadena, California. The library is home to a large collection of rare written material, including Chaucer’s Ellesmere manuscript, a Gutenberg Bible and historical documents written by Abraham Lincoln’s bodyguard, Ward Hill Lamon.
Among the millions of rare manuscripts and books, you’ll find Benjamin Franklin’s biographical manuscript, the first two quartos of Shakespeare’s Hamlet, the first seven drafts of Henry David Thoreau’s Walden and much more. All of these items and many more are available on display to the public, but the actual collection can’t be handled by anyone without explicit permission from higher authorities. Considering the rarity of all materials displayed, this is not a surprising restriction.
The impressive works of art by 18th and 19th century French and English artists are proudly exhibited in the Huntington Art Collection. Some 18th, 19th and 20th century American artists are also featured here. “The Blue Boy” by Thomas Gainsborough and Sarah Barrett Moulton and “Pinkie” by Thomas Lawrence are noteworthy artworks available in the permanent exhibition. The William Morris Collection is another intriguing section, where you’ll see Pre-Raphaelite art work consisting of wallpapers, embroidery, stained glass, textiles, ceramics, painting, woodblocks and over 2000 books. The complete archive of Morris & Co. is also available here.
Frequently used as a filming location in Hollywood movies and TV serials, the Huntington Botanical Gardens cover 120 acres and boast several theme gardens. The rare species of plants found here were largely unappreciated for a long time, until endangered species became a hot topic in nature preservation. The gardens include the Liu Fang Yuan Chinese Garden, Subtropical and Jungle Garden, Shakespeare Garden, Rose Garden, Palm Garden, North Vista, Lily Pond, Japanese Garden, Herb Garden, Desert Garden, Conservatory of Botanical Science, Desert Garden Conservatory, Children’s Garden, Camellia Collection, Australian Garden and the Australian Outlook.
If you plan to visit Pasadena and enjoy the many things on offer at the Huntington Library, it’s probably best to book check out different Pasadena hotels for an overnight stay. While there are plenty of hotels in Pasadena for you to choose from, try the Langham Hotel Pasadena for a quiet, relaxed and luxurious experience.
Watch the video
the park into a Global Video Lounge, allowing you to enjoy the cool Florida nights in an open waterfront setting. Immerse yourself in this audio visual experience and enjoy international food, beer and wine to round out the evening. All profits of this experience will go to benefit local art students from USF, UT, the Art Institute, and the Ringling College of Art and Design, as well as the international music education program, Project Ahimsa (www.projectahimsa.org). For only $5, …
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