Washington, D.C. is a hot spot for museums, with no shortage of indoor places to visit and explore. But it’s summer, which means it’s time to get outside. Luckily for those who enjoy a cultural fix along with their sunshine, there are plenty of interesting historic homes that include beautiful estates and gardens in our nation’s capital, too.
For many of these locations, fighting crowds isn’t a problem. These houses and gardens aren’t the typical tourist haunts. And while museums have their own charms, visiting a home where someone once lived can provide a uniquely intimate experience.
Here are six of the best historic estates to visit this summer in Washington, D.C.:
(© Richard T. Nowitz/Corbis)
In 1955, Marjorie Merriweather Post, the owner of General Foods and one of the richest women in the United States, bought this Georgian-style mansion and estate in Northwest Washington, D.C. After extensive remodeling, Hillwood became one of the beautiful homes and grounds in the area. Today, the entire estate is open to the public.
The house itself is a museum highlighting Post’s admiration for French and Russian culture, especially Russian imperial art. (The prizes of her collection are two stunning Fabergé Imperial eggs.) But Post also wanted visitors to enjoy a sampling of the world’s cultures while strolling the grounds. The 25-acre estate includes a Japanese-style garden, a French parterre (a type of formal garden with low plantings) and a Russian dacha, or country house. There’s also a putting green, evidence of Post’s passion for golf, as well as a pet cemetery located down a wooded path, which shows her love for animals—especially her pet dogs.