A Docent-Led Twilight Tour Traces the Huntington From Ranch to Landmark

For visitors who want more than a leisurely walk, the Huntington is pairing its Sunday evening strolls with a guided look at the history beneath the greenery. Twilight Garden Estate Tours will set out July 12 at 5 p.m. and again at 5:30 p.m., each a 90-minute, docent-led walk through the grounds in San Marino.

The outdoor tour follows the transformation of the property from a working ranch into one of the most celebrated cultural estates in the country. Guides recount how Henry E. Huntington, the railroad and real-estate magnate, and his wife, Arabella, assembled the art, rare books and plants that would become the Huntington Library, Art Museum and Botanical Gardens.

The tour unfolds during the institution’s Twilight Garden Strolls, when the gardens stay open past sunset and the light turns soft and amber — a favorite hour for photographers. An estate tour ticket includes access to most of the gardens until 8 p.m., letting participants linger after the walk concludes.

Space is limited, and advance purchase is required; no walk-up tickets will be available at the gate. The tours are among several offerings the Huntington has added this summer as it expands its after-hours programming beyond members to the general public.

Twilight Garden Estate Tours will run on Sunday, July 12, with departures at 5 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. The Huntington, 1151 Oxford Road, San Marino. For more information, call (626) 405-2100 or visit huntington.org. Advance purchase required.