Hillwood Estate, Museum & Gardens, Washington, D.C.: what to see and when to go

Hillwood Estate, Museum & Gardens is a museum and former private home in Washington, D.C., known for its decorative arts collections and formal gardens. Visitors can see Russian imperial art, French decorative pieces, and one of the country's notable orchid collections, as well as themed gardens and historic rooms.

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Home to two Fabergé Imperial Easter Eggs
Features a formal French parterre and Japanese garden
Hosts one of the country's finest orchid collections
Rose garden contains beds of floribunda roses
Historic mansion filled with Russian and French art

What is Hillwood Estate, Museum & Gardens?

Hillwood Estate, Museum & Gardens is a museum set in a historic mansion surrounded by 25 acres of formal gardens and landscaped grounds. The estate features themed gardens such as a French parterre, rose garden, Japanese garden, and a cutting garden for fresh flowers. Inside, visitors find rooms filled with Russian imperial art, French decorative arts, and rare objects. The grounds also include a pet cemetery, a dacha, and a greenhouse known for its orchids.

The history of Hillwood Estate, Museum & Gardens

The mansion was built in the 1920s and later purchased by Marjorie Merriweather Post in 1955, who renamed it Hillwood. Post renovated the house and gardens, drawing on her experiences and collections from Russia and France. After her death in 1973, the estate was opened as a museum in 1977 under the Marjorie Merriweather Post Foundation, preserving her vision of a home filled with art and surrounded by gardens.

What there is to see

The gardens were designed by landscape architects and reflect different styles, including formal French layouts, English-inspired walks, and a Japanese garden. The rose garden features beds of floribunda roses and climbing varieties, while the cutting garden supplies fresh flowers for the house. The greenhouse, rebuilt in 1996, houses the orchid collection and is used by horticultural staff. Statues, fountains, and seasonal plantings add to the visual interest throughout the grounds.

When to go

Hillwood is open to the public as a museum and garden, offering tours of the house, art collections, and gardens. The estate hosts events, including concerts and community days, and is involved in outreach to local groups. The gardens are maintained year-round, with seasonal displays and special plantings. The site also serves as a venue for exhibitions and cultural programming.

Parts and collections

The gardens at Hillwood each have their own theme and design, from the formal symmetry of the French parterre to the naturalistic Japanese garden. The rose garden is notable for its single-variety beds and climbing roses. The estate also features unique elements such as the pet cemetery, the Russian-style dacha, and the Friendship Walk lined with boxwood and azaleas.

Why Hillwood Estate, Museum & Gardens matters

Hillwood is recognized for its collection of Russian imperial and French decorative arts, including Fabergé eggs and royal portraits. The gardens and estate reflect the tastes and interests of Marjorie Merriweather Post, a prominent collector and philanthropist. The site is also known for its engagement with the local LGBTQ community and for hosting cultural events and exhibitions.

Questions people ask about Hillwood Estate, Museum & Gardens

Where is Hillwood Estate, Museum & Gardens located?

Hillwood Estate, Museum & Gardens is located in Washington, D.C., at 4155 Linnean Ave. NW. It is set within 25 acres of landscaped gardens and grounds.

What can visitors see at Hillwood?

Visitors can tour the historic mansion, view collections of Russian imperial and French decorative arts, and explore themed gardens such as the French parterre, rose garden, Japanese garden, and orchid-filled greenhouse.

What is Hillwood known for?

Hillwood is known for its decorative arts collections, especially Russian imperial pieces and Fabergé eggs, as well as its formal gardens and orchid collection.

Who created Hillwood's gardens?

The gardens were designed by landscape architects including Willard Gebhart, Innocenti and Webel, Perry Hunt Wheeler, and Shogo Myaida, each contributing to different areas and styles.

Does Hillwood host special events?

Yes, Hillwood hosts events such as concerts, community days, and cultural programming, and is involved in outreach to local groups including the LGBTQ community.

Good reading and sources

Where this page comes from

The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Hillwood Estate, Museum & Gardens", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). Phool rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.

It may contain mistakes. Opening times, prices and bloom dates change: check with the place before you travel. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-03.

Photo credits on this page

The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.

Shalimar Bagh: ANSAR AHMAD, CC BY-SA 4.0, source

Yadavindra Gardens: Giridhar Appaji Nag Y, CC BY 2.0, source

Chashme Shahi: Amitraina at English Wikipedia, Public domain, source

Dumbarton Oaks: Boucher, Jack E. (as "creator" of the work), National Park Service, US, Public domain, source

Callaway Gardens: Thomsonmg2000, CC0, source

San Antonio Botanical Garden: Zereshk, CC BY 2.5, source

Crested Butte: RON RAFFETY, CC BY-SA 4.0, source

Alhambra: Jebulon, CC0, source

Hillwood Estate, Museum & Gardens