> At a Glance
> – One year after the January 2025 Eaton and Palisades fires, The Huntington served as a community refuge
> – The garden reopened quickly, sheltered Torah scrolls, rescued 11 koi, and shared architectural records
> – Staff distilled their response into five lessons on resilience, memory, and art as sanctuary
> – Why it matters: Cultural institutions can become critical disaster-recovery hubs for both people and heritage
After wildfires tore through Los Angeles County in January 2025, The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens transformed from scenic attraction to community lifeline-then spent the next year turning that experience into a blueprint for institutional disaster response.
Immediate Shelter for Collections and Community
Staff cleared wind-thrown branches within days and reopened the gates, offering locals a rare patch of calm. Located five miles south of the Eaton Fire, the San Marino landmark accepted evacuated religious and cultural treasures, including Torah scrolls from the Pasadena Jewish Temple and Center.
- Provided safe storage for displaced artifacts
- Created quiet garden spaces for reflection
- Partnered with Pasadena Humane to rehome 11 koi fish rescued from fire-damaged ponds
Rebuilding Resources and Reflections
Beyond emotional refuge, The Huntington supplied practical tools for rebuilding. The Foss Designing & Building Company Collection-a vast archive of images, blueprints, and technical data-became an essential stop for residents planning reconstruction.
On January 6, 2026, the institution released “Five Lessons” drawn from its year of crisis response:
| Lesson | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Fragile Things Can Endure | Even delicate artifacts survive with rapid action |
| Memory Can Take Shape Again | Communities can reconstruct shared history |
| Recovery Can Take Root | Gardens-and people-regrow after devastation |
| Literature Can Guide Recovery | Words offer maps for navigating loss |
| Art Can Offer Sanctuary | Creative spaces heal both viewers and creators |
President Karen R. Lawrence summarized the shift:
> “The Huntington has always been a place of gathering and refuge-for people and collections. In the year since, that role has taken on a deeper meaning.”
Key Takeaways
- Cultural sites can pivot quickly from attraction to disaster-relief asset
- Archival collections double as rebuilding toolkits for displaced residents
- Green spaces provide measurable psychological first aid after trauma
- Institutional memory, captured in lessons learned, prepares the next crisis response
- Partnerships across faith, animal-welfare, and heritage sectors expand impact
One year after flames upended thousands of lives, The Huntington’s evolving response shows how museums and gardens can guard both tangible heritage and community spirit.
