Hillwood Estate

4155 Linnean Ave. NW
202/686-5807 or 877/445-5966
www.hillwoodmuseum.org [1]

HOURS: Tues.-Sat. 10 a.m.-5 p.m., select Sun.;
closed Mon. and federal holidays

COST: Suggested donation $15 adults, $12 over age 64,
$10 college students, $5 ages 6-18, free under age 6

Containing one of the largest collections of Russian imperial art outside Russia, Hillwood is the former home of Marjorie Merriweather Post, heiress to the Post cereal fortune and onetime wife of Joseph E. Davies, ambassador to the Soviet Union from 1936 to 1938, when the couple purchased many works of art, often sold by the government at rock-bottom prices to raise hard currency in the challenging economic and political climate of the time.

The home displays Russian icons, Fabergé eggs, porcelain, textiles, silver, and framed artwork in addition to Post’s extensive collection of French furniture, art, and jewelry.

The estate is most popular during spring, when its extensive gardens are in bloom. A café on the grounds serves a light lunch and afternoon tea. Reservations are recommended for the dining room.

Visitors can also opt to purchase from the express menu and borrow a picnic blanket free of charge to enjoy dining among the spectacular landscaping.