The Huntington
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, CA 91108
(626) 405-2100

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Helen and Peter Bing Children's Garden

Inviting youngsters to enter and explore, the Children’s Garden opens up endless pathways to discovery.

Features      Map of Children's Garden       Hours & Admission     Visitor Guidelines     Group Visits    

Designed specifically with youngsters in mind, the Children’s Garden taps into children’s innate curiosity about the world around them.  The Garden encourages intellectual and physical engagement in magical, thought-provoking surroundings. It is the perfect place for hands-on exploration, at a scale and level just right for little ones.

The Garden centers on the four ancient elements-–Fire, Water, Earth and Air.  These are the raw elements that fuel the plant world and, through plant growth, give rise to the oxygen, food, resources, and habitats that sustain human life.

FIRE

Fire yields light and heat, demonstrated through the power of sunlight whose energy plants use to create their food.

Prism Tunnel:  Crawl through the tunnel where prisms break sunlight into colored arcs and soft halos.

Topiary Volcano:  Sunlight fuels the flame-colored leaves of New Zealand flax growing atop the volcano.  Rampant vines form a shady refuge.

Rainbow Room:  Pulses of mist break sunlight into a circular rainbow that shimmers against the background of miniature Bull Bay magnolias.

WATER

Water gives movement to our lives and the world around us.  Plants take water in through their roots and lose it through their leaves.

Sonic Pool:  Vibrations at the rim of the basin create waves that interfere with each other to produce dynamic effects–causing water to ripple, and even dance around the edge.

Vortex and Water Bells:  Change the flow of water in the Vortex, and watch the effects of the water as it swirls through the funnel.  At the Water Bells, water forms umbrella-like shapes, only to be pierced and reshaped by small hands.

Marble Jets:  These small jets propel grape-sized spurts of water in to the air.

EARTH

Earth is soil, rock, pebbles, stone and metal.  The earth is where plants root and where they get their nutrients.

Magnetic Sand 
Magnetic sand comes from ocean sediments.  It is attracted to the two powerful magnets and provides an opportunity to create interesting shapes—a lesson in the interaction of force fields.

Self-Centered Globe 
With Los Angeles positioned at the top, the globe shows how the sun is striking the Earth at this very moment.  Look and feel for evidence of Earth’s sunrise and sunset, shadows, and surface heat.

Pebble Chimes 
Pebbles ring out while bouncing through a maze of metal posts.  Compose your own sounds, from solo, to symphony, to cacophony in an interplay of materials and physics.

AIR

Air is a forgotten substance, until it is made visible—by fog or smoke.  But the atmosphere is the greatest nutrition source on Earth, providing all of the carbon dioxide plants require to make the food they use to grow.

Fragrance Garden
Gentle aromas waft through this formal passageway planted with citrus, rosemary, lavender, and other fragrance-rich plants.  Smell and flowers and leaves.

Fog Grotto
Experience the swirl of clouds and the constant currents that move around us.  Fog, generated by nearly 100 high-pressure nozzles, flows in and fills the grotto, only to be swept away by a sudden breeze.

Map of the Children's Garden

Hours and Admission

The Children’s Garden is open during The Huntington’s normal public hours.  Entry to the Children's Garden is included with general admission to The Huntington, which also includes access to all exhibitions, galleries, and 120 acres of botanical gardens.


Timed Entry Passes

Because of the high level of interest in the Children’s Garden, timed entry passes may be issued at certain times to prevent overcrowding. Color-coded passes marked with a specific entry time (for example, 1-2 p.m.) will be distributed as needed at the entrance to the Children’s Garden. While waiting, visitors can tour other parts of the grounds, see exhibits in the art galleries, or have lunch in the Café, returning to the Children’s Garden at their designated entry time. Note: Visitors who arrive as a group (10 or more) are not guaranteed entry as one unit.  On days when crowds are light, timed entry passes will not be required.

Visitor Guidelines
To insure an enjoyable and safe visit to the Children’s Garden, please follow these guidelines:

• No drop-offs. Children must be supervised by adult guardians at all times: one adult for every four children.
• Strollers must be parked outside the Children’s Garden. The Huntington is not liable for loss or damage to strollers or their contents.
• Younger children have priority in the garden. All ages are welcome, but the Children’s Garden is designed specifically for ages 2-7, so we ask all visitors to be accommodating and not crowd the little ones out.
• All visitors must wear shoes.
• No running in the Children’s Garden, as some surfaces may be wet.
• Please do not remove anything from the garden, including stones, plants, or magnetic sand.
• No picnics, please. Lunches and snacks are available in the Café.
• No smoking.

Group Visits

• Adult supervision of one adult for each four children is required in the Children's Garden.
• Groups arriving by bus must make bus reservations in advance by calling 626-405-2240.
• Large groups cannot be guaranteed entry together if Timed Entry Passes are in use.