Jaunted

The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens sit on what used to be the estate of Henry E. Huntington, one of the West's great railroad magnates. Spread across 120 acres of genuinely breathtaking botanical gardens are some of the world's rarest manuscripts and most precious works of art. The Huntington's collection of 18th and 19th century British and French art is among the best in North America. For instance you can find Thomas Gainsborough's Blue Boy in their newly rebuilt gallery.

You can't get access to the bulk of the library without a PhD in your hand but some of their rarest books - including a Gutenberg Bible - are on display for the public. There's also a new History of Science exhibit with original drafts of works you'll feel bad about not being able to place ("which one was Kepler again?" "who wrote the Discourse on Method again?"). The Huntington is open to the public from 12pm-4:30pm for $15 during the week and 10:30am-4:30pm for $20 on weekends and is closed on Tuesdays. The first Thursday of every month is free, but you have to order your tickets in advance.

The Norton Simon Museum sits a little down the road, in the heart of Old Pasadena. Their collections encompass artifacts, paintings, sculptures, and photographs from as far back as 14th century Europe and from as recently as last year. The Norton Simon's 19th century European collection is particularly notable, featuring paintings by people with last names like Van Gogh and Courbet.

Their collection of Degas's paintings and sculptures is one of the best on the planet. The museum is open from noon and 6pm every day, except Tuesdays when it's closed and Thursdays when it's open till 9pm.

The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens: 1151 Oxford Rd. San Marino, CA 91108
The Norton Simon Museum: 411 W Colorado Blvd Pasadena, CA 91105

Related Stories:
· Museums Coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: Dancers in the Wings, 1880, by Edgar Degas, Norton Simon Museum, Pasadena, CA]