2025 Exhibition Information & Mansion Display Updates

From exquisite decorative art objects, contemporary art, dazzling jewelry, and historic fashions to fresh garden installations, special exhibitions offer new perspectives on the collections at Hillwood and the life of its founder, Marjorie Merriweather Post. 

Hillwood also features temporary changing displays in designated spaces throughout the mansion. These so-called mansion rotations offer visitors a dynamic opportunity to view an ever-changing assortment of objects such as textiles, silver, and dinner services. 

Exhibitions

Setting Sail: The Story of Sea Cloud  

On View: February 15-June 15, 2025  

Location: Dacha  

Travel the seas through one of history’s most famous yachts. Setting Sail: The Story of Sea Cloud explores the magnificent story of this seafarer from the 1930s to today through documents, photographs, models, decorative arts, paintings, and more. 

Related volunteer resources and programs:  

Mansion Display Updates

  • January 2025: Marjorie Post’s Dressing Room 
    During the January closure, the Collections and Curatorial team refreshed the display on the kidney-shaped table in Marjorie Post’s dressing room. The updated arrangement showcases a carefully curated selection of objects from Post’s workstation. View the updated display and object list here.  
  • March 2025: Pantry Label Text (updated March 18, 2025)
    On March 10, Hillwood began installation for the refresh of the displays and interpretation in the mansion pantry. The project was completed on Monday, March 17. The label text is available for all volunteers to study. Additionally, Collections and Curatorial assisted us in creating an object list for the Flatware from the Hillwood Service (12.326), providing a description of what each piece was used for. Please click here for the images and descriptions of these objects.

    This update is part of a two-phase project that will also include a refresh of the staff dining room, scheduled for late summer or early fall of 2025. This initiative allows Hillwood to showcase additional objects from storage while offering deeper insights into the relationship between Marjorie Merriweather Post and her staff. For a preview of the plans for the staff dining room, we invite you to read Staff Dining Room and Pantry Refresh, a December 2024 article by Dr. Wilfried Zeisler, deputy director and chief curator.
  • March 2025: Paintings Removed for Conservation | Adam Bedroom Suite and Second Floor Landing

    The Collections team recently removed two paintings from the mansion for conservation. On March 11, the painting Rome: Forum and Capital was removed from its home above the vanity table in the Adam bedroom suite. On the second floor landing, the painting Portrait of Paul I as a Child (c. 1758) was removed from its home above the cabinet to the left of the snooze room door. The Collections team expects both paintings will be off view for some time, and volunteers will be notified when they are back on view. Please click the links below for the images and descriptions of these paintings:

  • March 2025: French Drawing Room

    This change is no longer active, please see the French drawing room update in April 2025. 
    On Wednesday, March 26, the round table (33.217) was temporarily removed from its home in the French drawing room for conservation. Another table (31.49) from the same room was moved as a temporary replacement. The Collections team expects the round table will be off view for some time, and we will update the volunteer website when it is back on view. Please click here for more information, including a picture of the updated display.

  • April 2025: Marjorie Merriweather Post Bedroom
    On Tuesday, April 15, the two photographs (F1997.553 and 62.69) that were returned to their home in Marjorie Merriweather Post’s bedroom, located on either side of the bust of Marjorie Post, after being taken off view for conservation.