About
A Message from President Karen Lawrence
Jan. 11, 2023 - Happy New Year!
At our Centennial launch on Sept. 5, 2019, inaugurating what was to be a yearlong celebration, I welcomed The Huntington community, as well as attendees from other civic, academic, and cultural institutions, and said, “For a person turning 100, it is very natural to look back and reflect on the past. For an institution turning 100, a centennial is a moment to be like the Roman god Janus: looking back and forward at the same time. So today, we celebrate how far we have come and reflect on where we want to go.”
The month of January is named for Janus. As we start a new year, I return to this god of duality—of beginnings and endings, transitions and passages, gates, and frames. The major exhibition of our Centennial, “Nineteen Nineteen,” looked back on The Huntington’s founding in 1919, a tumultuous year both locally and globally, with materials predominantly from our collections. more
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
The Huntington’s diversity, equity, and inclusion strategic plan is fully focused on the intent of the founders and our commitment to preserve, build, and share our treasured collections for the benefit of a global community. Together, we will nurture a culture of belonging and excellence that is fundamental to this place we hold so dear.
Community Partnerships
More than 6,000 people engage with The Huntington’s collections each year through active community partnerships with organizations in Los Angeles and the surrounding area. At The Huntington, we see community engagement as a critical way to build a more inclusive cultural institution.
The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens shares its world-renowned collections to support scholarship, foster learning, inspire creativity, and offer transformative experiences for diverse audiences.
What We’re Working On
The Desert Garden Improvement Project will open new areas of the upper Desert Garden, showcasing more of this world-renowned collection with the construction of new pathways, a renovated Desert Conservatory with all-new infrastructure, and greatly improved horticultural conditions to create new opportunities for learning and enjoyment.
The Huntington is renovating and expanding its beloved historic Rose Garden Tea Room, restoring the front of the original 1911 building while improving functionality in its service areas and creating a new outdoor dining experience with breathtaking views.
The Huntington is adding to its renowned Japanese Garden a 320-year-old house from Marugame, Japan. The well-preserved structure is an exquisite example of a working magistrate’s residence that once served as the center of village life and home to generations of the same family.