Hillwood Estate Museum & Gardens; - (Home of Marjorie Merriweather Post)

 

In 1955, Marjorie purchased Hillwood as her home and spent 2 years of renovation and expansion, - creating it as a place that suits her lifestyle as well as a museum to display her extra ordinary art collections.

Marjorie Post was one of the richest women of her time (1887-1973). She is a great collector of French and Russian arts for her enjoyment as well as for the education purpose of future generations.

Hillwood Estate covers 25 acres of landscaped gardens and natural woodlands; it remains Marjorie's most important legacy, including the artistry of its collections and beautiful gardens that continue to inspire. It is now one of the premier art collector's museum in the US.

This Georgian-style mansion is filled with the most modern conveniences that money could buy, including her elegant French drawing room, the efficient and "high-tech" kitchen and pantry, and the many personal touches that made Hillwood one of Washington's most memorable homes.

In 1977, Hillwood Estate & Gardens opened to the public. Today, it continous to show vibrant special exhibitions, programs, events and garden displays.

You can spend time on your own exploring the 13 acres of exquisite formal gardens, - don't miss the French parterre, the rose garden and the Friendship Walk. It also includes a Japanese-style garden, and a modern greenhouse rebuilt and renovated in 1996 on the original site, containing an extensive collection of exotic orchids and tropical plants.

Tudor Place - Reliving America's Story

 

Tudor Place is worth the visit if you're around the D.C. area, and love to learn about part of America's history.

It is also a house full of various impressive collections of various artifacts, antiques and many more and a garden - all rolled into one!

The visitor entrance is located at 1644 31st Street NW, Washington DC, between Q & R Streets. It's 2 blocks east of Wisconsin Ave. and a 20-minute walk from Dupont Circle, Foggy Bottom or Rosslyn MetroRail stations.

Tudor Place is full of history, - from the estate house, to the family, the collections, the helpers and the garden. This home estate was owned by a couple, - Thomas Peter and Martha Custis, - the granddaughter of Martha Washington.

THE HOUSE:

It is considered as a house of architectural distinction owned by a single family for six generations. They hosted several famous figures who shaped American history like Pres. Andrew Jackson, John Calhoun, Daniel Webster, Robert E. Lee, and Marquis de Lafayette.

The house was designed by architect Dr. William Thornton, overlooking the Potomac River and port of Georgetown. Today, as a National Historic Landmark, it is considered as a premier example of American neoclassicism, - reflecting its full-round portico as a unique American residential architecture. 

Since it was completed in 1816, Tudor Place was owned by the Peter family until 1983.

THE COLLECTION:

Tudor Place contains an impressive collection of American, European and Asian items dating from the 18th-20th centuries. Currently, it holds more than 15,000 objects from fine decorative arts like 19th-20th century silver jewelries to daily household collections as well as architectural and archaeological collections.

This house turned museum also displays moret han 200 items belonging to Martha and George Washington.

THE GARDEN:

It includes an expansive historic gardens covering an area of 5.5 acres, preserved by the Peter family for over 2 centuries. The present garden used to be an agrarian estate, but now reflects a beautiful ornamental garden with centuries-old trees, beautiful plantings, fountains and sculptures.

The impressive landscape include green lawns, formal garden rooms, natural woodland, intricate Box Knot, English Boxwood Circle and antique roses.

DOMESTIC HELPERS:
The Peter family owned and inherited a lot of enslaved men, women and children, who served the family, tended the household, farmed and cultivated the garden.

Free African-Americans and European immigrants performed the same task between 19th-20th centuries.