Huntington Library receives $32-million gift from Charles Munger

The Huntington Library, Art Collections and Botanical Gardens announced Thursday it has received a $32-million gift from Charles Munger that will go toward the construction of the museum’s new education and visitors center, which is expected to open in 2015.

Munger’s gift is the lead donation in the Huntington’s effort to raise a total of $60 million for the project. Construction has already begun on the new center, which will feature 6.5 acres of new gardens and about 43,000 square feet of educational facilities and visitor amenities.

Munger, 89, serves as vice chairman of Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway and was a founding partner of the downtown L.A. law firm Munger, Tolles & Olson. His late wife, Nancy, sat on the Huntington’s board of trustees and was active at the museum for a number of years. The couple funded the museum’s Munger Research Center, which opened in 2004.

A spokeswoman for the Huntington said the museum had been in talks with Munger about the gift for months leading up to Thursday’s announcement. She said that fundraising is “well underway” to meet the $60-million goal.

Munger has donated millions to educational institutions and universities around the country.

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