Please Note: The tour's departure location has changed.
Tucked away in the charming, tree-lined neighborhoods of Washington, D.C., are two remarkable gems where art, history, and personal passion meet. Join art historian Judy Pomeranz for an insider’s look at Hillwood Estate, Museum & Gardens and The Phillips Collection—two of the city’s most intimate cultural landmarks, each housed in the former homes of their visionary collectors.
Start the day with opulence at Hillwood Estate, Museum & Gardens, former residence of heiress Marjorie Merriweather Post. A guided tour of the 36-room mansion showcases Post’s extensive art collection, which focuses on French and Russian imperial art. Marvel at some of the 17,000-plus objects, including two Fabergé eggs, portraits of Russian royalty, and exquisite French porcelain. Step into the estate’s gardens, set on 25 acres adjacent to Rock Creek featuring an array of trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plants. Stroll through the French parterre, reminiscent of a world of European elegance and refinement, and step across the bridge in the Japanese-style garden, an artful blend of Asian and American inspirations. Don’t miss the working greenhouse, the source of the orchids and other tropical plants that fill Hillwood with color and fragrance year-round. During a sit-down lunch on the estate grounds, enjoy a special talk from a Hillwood curator.
Nestled in the historic Dupont Circle neighborhood, The Phillips Collection stands as America's first museum dedicated to modern art. Established in 1921 by art collector and philanthropist Duncan Phillips, this private institution began as his residence and has evolved into a renowned museum housing over 5,000 works of modern and contemporary art. Docents lead you through the displayed collection, where you view works by Renoir, Rothko, O’Keeffe, and other luminaries, with a discussion of how the collection has grown.
Know Before You Go
- The tour departs by motorcoach from downtown Washington, DC. Content delivered by the study leader on the way to the destination is an integral part of the study tour experience. Meeting the group once the tour is en route is discouraged.
- Update: Tour participants meet at and leave by bus from the Mayflower Hotel, Connecticut Ave & DeSales St, NW (DeSales St. side) in Washington, DC.
- Participants will return to the Mayflower Hotel at the end of the tour.
- Classroom information will be sent in the pre-tour information email.
General Information
- Registration for this tour will end by 2 p.m. ET on Wednesday, October 22, 2025.
- Smithsonian Associates is a mask-friendly environment. Please feel free to bring and wear a mask at any time during a tour, both for your safety or the safety of others.
- As we aim to move away from single use water bottles, guests are strongly encouraged to get in the habit of bringing their own reusable water bottle on tour.
- For additional tour information:
