| This new tour features two formerly private estates – very different in their architecture and time period but unique, nonetheless. We begin at Rubel Castle, the monumental folk architecture site nestled in the foothills of Glendora. Michael Rubel was only 18 when he bought a packing house near Route 66 and worked to make his childhood dream of building a real castle, come true. Built entirely by hand with no architectural plans by Michael and his "pharmhands" over 26 years, Rubel Castle’s stone masonry was handcrafted from river rock, scrap steel, rocks, bedsprings, coat hangers, bottles and everything else you could imagine! On a docent-guided walking tour, we’ll learn about its incredible history, famous visitors (Alfred Hitchcock, Dwight Eisenhower, Bob Hope and Huell Howser to name a few) and see all parts of the castle including the citrus packing house, the Tin Palace Museum, Bottle House, Santa Fe Railroad caboose, 70-foot clock tower, vintage automobiles, three underground “dungeons” and a drawbridge! Several rooms display the castle’s timeless nature including a gramophone, hand-cranked printing presses, sepia-stained photographs, delightful old-world furnishings, vintage clothing, and chairs made from tree trunks fastened with padded leather. This afternoon, we continue to The Huntington – Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens. Originally the private estate of railroad magnate Henry Huntington, The Huntington is considered one of the great Gilded Age residences of America. Spread across 130 acres and featuring over 15,000 kinds of plants from around the world, the gardens are landscaped into a series of 16 specialized, themed gardens including the popular Rose Garden, Japanese Gardens and Chinese Garden. Within The Huntington art galleries is an impressive collection of American art from the late 17th to the late 20th century as well as European art from the 15th century to the early 20th century. Enjoy approximately four hours at leisure exploring the gardens, galleries and expansive gift shop with lunch on your own at the various eateries. This tour involves moderate to extensive walking. Rubel Castle has uneven walking surfaces and lacks handrails and is not recommended for anyone who has challenges walking or has limited eyesight. Portions of The Huntington art galleries are subject to closure during exhibit installation. |