TDudette

Forgot to write about this wonderful home that my arts group visited in May. It was the home of Marjorie Merriweather Post (as in cereal). She collected Russian artifacts when her then hub was an Ambassador and all things royal or religious were being sold of "cheap".

The gardens are as beautiful as the house and there is a greenhouse filled with orchids. Also on the grounds is a little house built to look like a dacha-it had a photo exhibit but I didn't have time to explore.

There is a separate welcome center (with a great gift shop), and another building with a cafe with indoor and outdoor seating. Food was B+ but our service was very slow.

If historic homes is your "thing", I'd recommend this. I didn't take any notes so I have forgotten most of the interesting details. Oh, there is a dog cemetery with aptly-named plantings like dogwoods, forget-me-nots, etc.

http://www.hillwoodmuseum.org/

gatlinburglover

Sounds interesting and something I would like to see when I go the the area.

NewbE

We were there last fall, and it's really spectacular. I suggest that it's eye-poppig even if historic houses are not your thing--there is jewelry to gape at, loads of beautiful furniture, Faberge eggs, icons and other Russian Orthodox religious paraphernalia. And the gardens are beautiful. I'd love to see them in each season.

yestravel

TD - have u been to the Kreeger on Foxhall Rd in NW? http://www.kreegermuseum.org/
Always one of my favorites in DC

TDudette

yestravel, I'm not sure about Kreeger. The building doesn't look familiar but I think our art group has been to it. It's on my list now though.

yestravel

The bldg which was built as their home with eventual plans for it to be a museum is interesting in and of itself. The art collection is amazing. DC has much to thank the Kreegers for in terms of their contributions to art in DC.

Cali

We toured Hillwood a couple times and we really enjoyed seeing everything. Prior to someone recommending it to us we had never heard of it.

europeannovice

We loved the gardens and the house too. It is a wonderful property to explore both inside and out.

TDudette

Great to hear more good experiences. Just heard there was a wedding gown special exhibit-don't know if it was for June or not.

yentakvetch

Glad you got to see Hillwood. Comparatively few out of towners know about it. Tudor Place in Georgetown is also an interesting historic home.

Birdie

I love Hillwood and can't wait to go back. I described our visit in this trip report:

http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...shes-in-dc.cfm

Thanks for the recommendation for the Kreeger, yestravel. I'll have to go sometime. How about Dumbarton Oaks? How does it compare to Hillwood?

NewbE

Dumbarton Oaks is not as spectacularly furnished as Hillwood--but then again, few historic homes are. Sometimes the interior of DO isn't even open to the public. The gardens as just as beautiful, IMO, and there is an interesting little museum of antiquities.

I'd also recommend Tudor House, which is very nearby, but strangely little known. The docent-led tour is a must. It's much older and, again, not as over the top as Hillwood, but both it and DO are well worth a visit.

TDudette

Haven't been to Tudor House (indeed this is my first time hearing about it) but hub and I took a lovely tour of Dumbarton Oaks some years ago. As NewBe says, it's not as flashy was Hillwood but had a collection of pre-Columbian artifacts that are significant.

The couple who lived there were friends with a composer (senior moment name lost) who actually wrote music for their anniversary. I believe (am going to have to re-check my facts, sorry) the home has become a research center under the auspices of Harvard U.

Birdie, were the green house, cafe and visitors' center at Hillwood when you visited?

Birdie

I believe the visitors' center was open. Was that where you watch the introductory film? The cafe was not open, the green house was but the orchids were not in bloom. I remember thinking that it was a must to return when they were blooming. It has to be spectacular.

TDudette

A super place, fer sure.