Hillwood Estate, Museum & Gardens  |  View in browser

March 2026 Schedule 

The March 2026 schedule is now open to all interpretation volunteers in Volgistics, complete with private tours and special events. Please log in to your Volgistics account to schedule your shifts. If you have any changes or questions regarding the volunteer schedule, please continue to contact volunteers@hillwoodmuseum.org or 202.686.8528. Thank you.

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Welcome Back to Hillwood!

Despite the cold weather, things are starting to warm back up at Hillwood as we kick off an exciting season of programs and special events for 2026! We’re delighted to welcome back volunteers and visitors following our reopening to the public on Tuesday, February 3.

As we gear up for 2026, we want to quickly recap our visitation from last year. With your support, 2025 proved to be another record-breaking year with 114,814 visitors on-site at Hillwood, along with 2,772 virtual visits from school and public programs. We can’t thank you enough for your continued support as we welcome new and returning guests to the estate, and we look forward to seeing what 2026 will bring in terms of visitation.

We have a lot to share this month, so read on to learn more about what’s in store for February.

The mansion in the snow. Photo courtesy of Erik Kvalsvik.

The mansion in the snow. Photo courtesy of Erik Kvalsvik.

Behind the Scenes with Collections: Hillwood’s Annual January Closure

Hillwood’s collections team was hard at work on a number of projects around the estate during our January closure. From updating the entry hall banister and deinstalling the Paley exhibition, to installing objects in the dacha and cleaning pieces in the mansion, the start of the year was a whirlwind for collections staff.

Learn more about what goes on behind the scenes to prepare the estate for our February reopening in this article by Diana Brazil, exhibitions and collections project manager.

New display with men's and women’s staff uniforms.

New display with men's and women’s staff uniform.

Opening Soon | On Time: Giving Form to the Fleeting

Hillwood’s special exhibition, On Time: Giving Form to the Fleeting, will be on view in the dacha from Saturday, February 14 through Sunday, June 14. For the first time, Hillwood will present the museum's robust collection of lavish 18th, 19th, and 20th-century timepieces, displaying these beautiful objects alongside historic and contemporary loans to explore horology's place in society, both culturally and stylistically.

Volunteer Education: On Time

Please refer to the resources below for more information on the upcoming On Time exhibition. Exhibition label text and mansion display updates can also be found on the 2026 Exhibition Information & Mansion Display Updates page of the volunteer website.

Hillwood’s new exhibition, “On Time: Giving Form to the Fleeting,” opens to the public on February 14.

Hillwood’s new exhibition, “On Time: Giving Form to the Fleeting,” opens to the public on February 14.

Upcoming Events: Valentine’s Day Celebration & Member Program

Save the Date: October 5 Volunteer Appreciation Reception

This year, we’re excited to try something new by moving our Volunteer Appreciation Reception to the fall. Join us on Monday, October 5, from 5–7 p.m., to celebrate your meaningful contributions. With spring being such a busy season at Hillwood, this shift allows us to dedicate more time and intention to honoring our volunteers.

In past years, the reception was held shortly before the June Gala and exhibition-related member events, often creating a very full calendar. Historically, while fall included events during Marjorie Post’s time, it was also a quieter season – one that allowed staff to focus on stewarding the estate. In the spirit of autumn, a season associated with abundance, warmth, and gratitude, this felt like a fitting moment to pause and celebrate our incredible volunteer community.

Invitations will be emailed closer to the event. Hillwood is deeply grateful for your time and dedication and for the many ways you bring the estate to life – we look forward to celebrating together this fall.

Cutting garden in the fall. Photo courtesy of Erik Kvalsvik.

Cutting garden in the fall. Photo courtesy of Erik Kvalsvik.

Accessibility at Hillwood: Open Door Arts Accessibility Self-Assessment

Hillwood recently completed a comprehensive accessibility self-assessment with Open Door Arts to better understand how our spaces, services, and programs support visitors of all abilities. In this article by Meredith DeSantis, head of visitor experience and accessibility, learn what we discovered, what volunteers told us matters most, and how your everyday observations will help shape our accessibility priorities for 2026.

Also included in the article is a link to a new survey to collect your observations and feedback related to the visitor experience at Hillwood. If you observe moments when a visitor seemed confused, fatigued, overwhelmed, unsafe, or in need of assistance, we want to learn from that experience. Click here to access the survey, and please note that you are welcome to submit the survey more than once if additional observations come to mind.

Spotlight on the Garden Section Managers: Part One

To provide the best possible care for the gardens, the campus is divided into sections overseen by a garden section manager. In this series, get to know these hard-working staff members as they share a bit about themselves and their work at Hillwood.

Part one, written by Jessica Bonilla, director of horticulture, highlights the newest member of the team, Steve Mann, and Kevin Beamer, whose time at Hillwood is coming to a close.

Stay tuned for additions to this series as we get to spotlight more members of the horticulture team!

Kevin Beamer, garden section manager, making swags.

Kevin Beamer, garden section manager, making swags.

Volunteer News & Reminders

This year started off with a number of exciting volunteer education programs, and we have many more to look forward to as we head further into 2026. Looking ahead, we have a few reminders as we prepare for another fabulous year at Hillwood:

2026 Lecture Videos | The “2026 Lecture Videos” page is now updated with recordings from recent volunteer education programs. Catch up on Hillwood’s annual Virtual Volunteer Business Meeting, available now on the volunteer website.

2026 Guest Passes | Be on the lookout for your volunteer guest passes, which were mailed out on Friday, January 23. If you haven’t received yours, please reach out to us at volunteers@hillwoodmuseum.org.

2026 Spring Garden Tours | We look forward to welcoming back our garden docents for spring tours beginning at the end of March! The 2026 Spring Garden Touring season will run from Tuesday, March 31 through Sunday, June 14. Garden tours will be offered at 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., Tuesday through Sunday. Hillwood will continue to offer a third garden tour on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays in 2026 at 2:30 p.m. in April, and 1:30 p.m. in May and June, adjusted earlier to avoid the high temperatures that peak in the late afternoon during those months.

Congratulations Connor Beaty, People & Culture Manager

Please join us in congratulating Connor Beaty on his promotion to People & Culture Manager. Connor has done excellent work leading Hillwood’s recruitment and onboarding processes, and this promotion recognizes his contributions and expanded responsibilities, including co-leading the internship program with Rebecca Singer, head of youth audiences.

Connor Beaty

Connor Beaty

Upcoming Volunteer Education

Mark your calendars for these upcoming volunteer educational sessions:

Virtual Volunteer Lecture | On Time: Giving Form to the Fleeting
February 18 (Wednesday), 6 p.m.

Join us for the upcoming virtual volunteer lecture presented by Dr. Wilfried Zeisler, deputy director and chief curator, highlighting Hillwood’s special exhibition On Time: Giving Form to the Fleeting, opening in the dacha on Saturday, February 14. The lecture, hosted via Zoom, will provide an overview of the exhibition design and objects, followed by a live Q&A with the curator. All volunteers are encouraged to attend, and no advanced registration is needed. A Zoom link with the meeting instructions will be emailed closer to the program date. The virtual lecture will also be recorded, and the video link will be shared via email and posted on the volunteer website.

Day of Horticulture
March 2 (Monday), 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

Join Hillwood’s horticulture department for Day of Horticulture, a relaxed and engaging day designed for learning and connection. This year’s program will feature four lectures by horticulture staff. To learn more, check out the full lecture schedule.

  • 10 a.m. | Time in the Garden by Kevin Beamer, garden section manager
  • 11:15 a.m. | Pondering of Pansies by Jarett Currin, greenhouse grower
  • 11:45 a.m. | Victory Gardens by Cicily Arnsworth, garden section manager and coordinator
  • 12:30 p.m. | 2025 Garden Update and 2026 Sneak Preview by Jessica Bonilla, director of horticulture

The program will be held in the visitor center theater, with coffee and light refreshments provided. Doors to the visitor center will open at 9:30 a.m. There will be plenty of opportunities to connect with staff and fellow volunteers before, between, and after the lectures.

All volunteers are encouraged to attend, and no advanced registration is needed. If you’re unable to attend, the session will be recorded and the video link shared with volunteers via email.

Volunteer Tour: New Compost Site
March 17, 18, 19, 20 (Tuesday-Friday), 10:15-10:45 a.m.

Join Matt Boyle, cutting garden and volunteer manager, on a tour and discussion of the recently upgraded composting site. He and volunteers will walk down to the composting site via the south access road to see and discuss the new drainage, aeration, and processing techniques of the garden and pre-consumer food waste from the Merriweather café. Attendees will learn how the new site will help Hillwood create a better soil building product for the gardens and be better stewards of the local watershed. Group size is limited to 15 volunteers per tour. Please use the links below to sign up for a tour:

Children-Friendly Interactions at Hillwood
March 30 (Monday), 10 a.m. and repeated April 13 (Monday), 1 p.m.

Inspired by insights from our recent volunteer survey, Hillwood is excited to introduce a new one-hour training session, Children-Friendly Interactions at Hillwood, for volunteers. This session will be held in the visitor center theater on Monday, March 30 at 10 a.m., with a repeat offering on Monday, April 13 at 1 p.m.

As we continue to welcome a growing number of families and youth visitors—including children visiting with parents, schools, and community groups—this training is designed to help volunteers and staff feel more confident and prepared when engaging with our youngest guests. Lead by Audra Kelly, director of interpretation, Rebecca Singer, head of youth audiences, the session will explore how children and families fit into Hillwood’s visitation experience, share practical tips for creating a welcoming environment, and provide guidance on managing challenging situations when intervention may be needed. The wonderful work our volunteers do to support today’s children plays an essential role in shaping tomorrow’s museum visitors, donors, and patrons, helping to ensure Hillwood’s vibrant future.

Light refreshments will be provided. The session will also be recorded and shared with volunteers via the volunteer website and email.

Mansion Docent Training Resources

Resources from the 2026 Mansion Docent Training Program are now available to all volunteers and staff as part of our continuing education offerings. These pre-recorded lectures and accompanying readings are excellent refreshers and also provide new insights into the collection and visitor engagement methods.

We encourage all volunteers to take advantage of this opportunity by exploring the lecture recordings and readings on the 2026 Mansion Docent Training page of the volunteer website. The content is organized by topic, beginning with the first class in the training program. Simply click on a topic to expand the page and view the full list of pre-recorded lectures and related reading materials.


Pre-recorded lecture on Fabergé at Hillwood, as part of the 2026 Mansion Docent Training Resources available on the volunteer website.

Pre-recorded lecture on Fabergé at Hillwood, as part of the 2026 Mansion Docent Training Resources available on the volunteer website.

Staff Help and Resources 

Thank you for being a part of the Hillwood community! Our doors are always open. Feel free to reach us at volunteers@hillwoodmuseum.org. 


-The Volunteer Support Team

Erin Allen, Holly Scanlon, Matt Boyle, and Lisa Leyh

Explore Hillwood Online

Stay connected with Hillwood anytime through our website! Discover treasures in the collection database, see what’s blooming in the gardens, and sign up for upcoming programs. Planning a visit? Head to our Plan Your Visit page for the latest offerings and to book your next visit.

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Visit the Volunteer Website

Stay informed and inspired by visiting Hillwood’s volunteer website. Revisit past newsletters and updates, watch recordings of volunteer programs, and review the latest guidelines. Dive deeper into your Hillwood journey with a wide array of educational resources designed just for volunteers.

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