The Huntington

Henry Huntington made his money in railways and real estate and spent it on books, paintings and plants, leaving the estate to the public on his death in 1927. The library holds one of the eleven vellum Gutenberg Bibles in existence, the Ellesmere Chaucer manuscript of about 1400, and a very large research collection. The art collection's best-known pieces are Gainsborough's The Blue Boy and Lawrence's Pinkie, hung facing each other. The gardens are the largest part of the visit: sixteen of them across about half the estate, including a desert garden with one of the biggest outdoor cactus and succulent collections anywhere, a Japanese garden with a moon bridge, and a Chinese garden built with Suzhou craftsmen.

What you actually see

• A vellum Gutenberg Bible - one of eleven in existence.
• The Blue Boy and Pinkie - hung facing each other.
• A very large desert garden - among the biggest outdoor succulent collections.
• Japanese and Chinese gardens - the latter built by Suzhou craftsmen.

When to go

Year round; closed Tuesdays. A full day.

Honest expectations

Tickets are timed and must be booked - weekends sell out. It is large and hilly; a full day is not generous. Some library items rotate off display. Parking is free but fills early.

Nearby

Pasadena and the Norton Simon Museum are west; Descanso Gardens are north.