In all the years that I have lived in Maryland, I never realized how close I lived to the Hillwood Estate, Museum, and Gardens (Washington DC). I also did not realize just how beautiful it would be and how rich in history the mansion was. The Hillwood Estate was originally owned by Marjorie Maryweather Post (yes, the one Maryweather Post Pavillian is named after) who owned the Post cereal company, and was at one time the wealthiest woman in America with a 250 million dollar net worth! The mansion has 36 rooms, and each room has its own unique flavor while maintaining the continuity of the flow of the house. We very much enjoyed the breakfast room, which had high windows and a great deal of natural light.
She was also a huge collector of art (specifically Russian),
which is on display throughout the house.. In addition to the permanent
collection of art, they also have rotating exhibits. When we were there, there
was a Faberge Egg exhibit, which were intricately crafted and beautifully
designed. This museum is a suggested donation payment, and you can pay what you
feel comfortable with ( I believe it is a $20 suggested donation).
When we finished in the mansion, we went over to the
greenhouses, where they had an impressive display of flora. The rooms certainly
were a little bit crowded, but it was nice to be immersed in the different
species. Once we got out of the muggy greenhouse, we decided to walk the
grounds. This was without a doubt, my
favorite part. The Japanese gardens and sculptures were stunning, and provided
a great location to take pictures. We found ourselves watching a turtle in one of
the ponds, standing on bridges, and walking between stones across smaller
tiered fountains.
While some children would certainly appreciate the beauty of
this estate, I would say that kids should be closer to 12 years old before they
could truly appreciate the beauty of this location. This activity requires a
decent amount of walking.
Website: http://www.hillwoodmuseum.org/
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