San Marino founding families exhibit at the Huntington Feb. 16

The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens is mounting a special exhibition, “Cultivating California: Founding Families of the San Marino Ranch” (on view Feb. 16 through May 13 in the West Hall of the Library), timed to correspond with the centennial year of the city of San Marino, Calif.

With more than 75 historical items drawn from The Huntington’s collections and those of the San Marino Historical Society and the Pasadena Museum of History, the exhibition tells the story of the Wilson, Shorb, and Patton families, who helped transform a region of one-time Spanish land grants into an agricultural paradise between the years 1854 and 1904. Rare family photographs, letters, legal documents, maps, and artifacts will be on display.

 The Huntington is located at 1151 Oxford Rd., San Marino, Calif., 12 miles from downtown Los Angeles. It is open to the public Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday from noon to 4:30 p.m.; and Saturday, Sunday, and Monday holidays from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Summer hours (Memorial Day through Labor Day) are 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Closed Tuesdays and major holidays. Admission on weekdays: $20 adults, $15 seniors (65+), $12 students (ages 12–18 or with full-time student I.D.), $8 youth (ages 5–11), free for children under 5. Group rate, $11 per person for groups of 15 or more. Members are admitted free. Admission on weekends: $23 adults, $18 seniors, $13 students, $8 youth, free for children under 5. Group rate, $14 per person for groups of 15 or more. Members are admitted free. Admission is free to all visitors on the first Thursday of each month with advance tickets. Information: 626-405-2100 or www.huntington.org.