Good News for Student Travelers: The Huntington Library Expands American Art Galleries

One of Southern California’s top student group travel attractions is expanding.   The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens in San Marino will open the new 16,379-square-foot Virginia Steele Scott Galleries of American Art on May 30, 2009, to showcase its growing American art collection to group travel tours.

The area is more than twice the previous size and will be one of the largest presentations in Southern California of American art from the colonial period through the mid-20th century. The dramatically expanded space comprises 15 galleries redesigned from the Virginia Steele Scott Gallery and the Lois and Robert F. Erburu Gallery, which formerly displayed European works. Permanent and temporary exhibitions will feature thematic groupings of works selected from The Huntington’s more than 9,400 American art pieces including paintings by Benjamin West (1738-1820), silver table ware by Tiffany and Co., and Zenobia in Chains (1859), a monumental sculpture by Harriet Hosmer (1830-1908) that will be on public view for the first time in nearly a century. One wall will be devoted to George Washington, anchored by a portrait by Gilbert Stuart (1775 – 1828). Free educational audio guides will be available.

http://www.huntington.org/