On Monday, October 5, Hillwood volunteers and staff gathered for our annual Volunteer Appreciation Reception. It was a beautiful fall evening in celebration of the hard work and dedication of our fabulous volunteer community.

The event featured a number of special offerings throughout the estate, including a behind the scenes look at Interwoven: A Tradition of Textiles, a sneak peek into closets in the mansion that are closed to the public, an overview of the newly refreshed Sèvres display in the French porcelain room, and an exploration of objects celebrating 50 years of Hillwood with the archives and special collections team. In addition to presentations by staff, volunteers enjoyed fall-inspired refreshments by Occasions Catering and had the chance to take home plant favors that were tended to by the horticulture department. With 242 volunteers and guests in attendance, it was a wonderful evening to bring together Hillwood’s vast volunteer community and honor the time and energy you all bring to your volunteer service.

Volunteers were also recognized with remarks from Ellen Charles, board president emerita, and Kate Markert, executive director, who also acknowledged four volunteers who joined our esteemed emeritus program this year, and 26 volunteers celebrating significant milestones in 2026.

Click the button below to see photos from the reception, read an excerpt from Kate Markert’s remarks, and see the full list of milestone honorees.

As part of Hillwood’s upcoming window replacement project, the pavilion will be closed to the public from Tuesday, October 13 through Monday, December 14. Please note that these dates are subject to change if the delivery date of the new windows is delayed or otherwise changes. To facilitate safe and efficient window installation, the pavilion will be deinstalled at the start of the closure and reinstalled once the project is complete. The closure will also provide the Collections team with an opportunity to complete several projects in the room, including conservation, cleaning, and stanchion upgrades.

While the pavilion is closed, the Portrait of Lloyd Patterson, on loan to Hillwood through March 2027, will be moved to a temporary location in the entry hall, above the demilune table adjacent to the coat check. The Portrait of Grand Duke Vladimir Alexandrovich (2015.4) currently on view in that location will be moved to storage. Both portraits will return to their original locations when the pavilion reopens in mid-December.

During the closure, the pavilion will be temporarily removed from the mansion tour route, and the rest of the mansion tour will remain the same.

Additional information on the window replacement project and other upcoming work can also be found on the Upcoming Mansion Projects post on the volunteer website. Thank you so much for your patience, flexibility, and continued support as Hillwood begins this important project. If you have any questions regarding the closure, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

Follow along in this article with Megan Martinelli, curator of textiles, apparel, jewelry and accessories, who participated in the Attingham Trust’s Royal Collection Studies encompassing ten full days of immersive study on the British Royal family, their collections, residences, and gardens.

Trace the origins of objects beginning with Charles I, the collector, George IV, the re-gilder, Prince Albert, the polychrome visionary, Queen Mary of Teck, the early 20th century decorator, and King Charles III’s gardens.

Shelby Brown, Development & Fundraising Events Manager

Please join us in welcoming Shelby Brown, our new development and fundraising events manager. Shelby is settling in and learning our ticketing system and getting up to speed on the Valentine's Day event and the June Gala. Shelby brings experience in fundraising events, donor engagement, and annual giving, most recently as Senior Manager of Donor Engagement and Events at Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta. She knows how to connect events with donor cultivation and stewardship, and we're excited to have her on board.