A Love Story at The Huntington Library in LA 💕

I want to share one of the most beautiful places in LA—The Huntington Library. It’s not just a private estate with a library, museums, and gardens—it also has a touching love story behind it. 💖 The owner of this stunning estate was Henry E. Huntington, a 19th-century railroad tycoon in California. In 1902, Henry inherited his uncle's Pacific Electric Railway Company, and in 1913, he married his uncle's widow, Arabella Huntington. To convince her to move from England to Los Angeles, he built this massive English-style estate right in San Marino. Every detail—from the architecture and gardens to the interior design—was crafted to say, “The life you love, I can create it for you.” Later, they donated this beautiful estate to the public, turning it into The Huntington as we know it today—sharing love, knowledge, and nature with the world. In 2010, The Huntington surpassed Harvard to become the largest private library in the US, housing over 9 million items. Its collections focus on British and American history, literature, art, and the history of science, spanning from the 11th century to the present. Unfortunately, the library was closed on the day we visited, so we missed seeing its breathtaking collection. Next time for sure! (I heard that PhD holders can enter for free to view the collections—quite the high bar!). The gardens here are themed and incredibly beautiful everywhere you go: The most famous is the 🌹 Rose Garden, created because the lady of the house loved roses. The most romantic spot is the “Temple of Love,” surrounded by Passionate Kisses roses—even the name sounds sweet! Besides the Rose Garden, there’s also a Chinese Garden, Japanese Garden, Desert Garden, Shakespeare Garden, and more… all worth exploring slowly. The Huntington is also home to the iconic American treasure painting The Blue Boy. In 1922, Huntington acquired it at a record-breaking price from the British National Gallery. The boy in the painting wears lavish aristocratic clothing, but he was actually the son of a factory owner—not nobility. This image reflects the enterprising spirit of the bourgeoisie during 18th-century Britain’s transition from feudalism to capitalism. With so many artifacts, each holding a unique story, it’s truly a place where you can spend hours immersed in beauty and history. OOTD: 💎 Bubble Nebula Necklace 💎 Mother-of-Pearl Sweetheart Collarbone Chain & Earrings 👗: Alo 👛: Chanel 👓: BV 📍 Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens #StrollingThroughLiteraryGardens #LATravel #HuntingtonLibrary #ValentinesDayIdeas #LALife #ArtAndNature #HistoricEstate #MustVisitLA #GardenWanderlust