This mansion and the grounds (guesthouses, gardens, pet cemetery, art research library greenhouses) once belonged to Ms. Marjorie Merriweather Post and upon her death was donated to the Smithsonian.
Ms. Marjorie Merriweather Post was the sole heir to her father C.W. Post's cereal empire. She had four marriages, three daughters and a knack for hosting amazing parties. One account is that after she hosted a Congressional soiree on her property, she left the tent up the next day for a Kentucky derby celebration. And that Monday she had a benefit honoring Veteran soldiers. What reveler she was!
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| The mansion |
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| Greenhouse |
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| Boxwood from Mount Vernon gardens |
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| Put-put course |
She has one of the few Japanese gardens that was developed after WWII. Many Americans were straying away from interest in Japanese garden design and culture, but she embraced the Japanese outlooks on gardens and design.
The Orchids in the greenhouse were spectacular.
On exhibit in one of her many guesthouses are wedding dress from the many weddings she participated in and her daughters had. It was nice to see how fashion has changed from 1874 now.
After touring her grounds, we went into her mansion. The mansion consisted of all her collections of the Russian art, decorative arts, antiques, Russian icons, Faberge eggs and other Soviet kitsch ;) (Merriweather Post lived in Russia for a year with one of her Ambassador husbands and became obsessed with the art and culture).
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