Serving the Richmond area for 100 years, with its rich history, beautiful gardens and interactive wildlife exhibits, Maymont is a nonprofit organization that hopes to be a space where people can relax, explore, meet animals, admire the seasons, step into history, take photos and wow out-of-town visitors.
Maymont’s History
According to its website, Maymont was built during the Gilded Age and served as the home of James Dooley, who Virginia Tourism puts in the same category of wealthy elites like the Carnegies, Rockefellers and Vanderbilts. Dooley started his career as a lawyer, but his investments in real estate, steel and banking made him one of the richest men in Virginia at the time.
Dooley’s wife Sallie turned the estate into total opulance. Fun fact: Maymont is a combination of Sallie’s middle name “May” and the french word for mountaing, “Mont.”
Based on their will, after both James and Sallie passed, the estate would be given to the City of Richmond with the request that Maymont served as a public park and museum. This happened in 1926, and it took a few years before the property fell into the hands of the Maymont Foundation in 1975. For decades, the estate has been preserved and has transformed, becoming a destination for locals and visitors alike. With the addition of The Robins Nature Center and Maymont Farm, you’ll be hard pressed to find a Richmonder that hasn’t walked its grounds.
“We obviously want to bring the community in, and so, how can we give as much access as possible while also preserving the grounds and history,” said Kathy Garrett-Cox, chief curator and director of historical resources and engagement at Maymont.
In order to increase accessibility but preserve historical structures, older buildings had have very little infrastructure updates, but all new buildings and additions provide accessibility updates so even more visitors can enjoy the century-old property.
Maymont’s Education and Programs
Maymont is focusing on education and is on track to serve 18,000 school children with its environmental program. Its connections with Richmond, Hanover, Henrico and Chesterfield school systems allow it to stay up to date with children’s needs within their curriculum. Children can learn about the environment around them in The Robins Nature Center and connect what they’ve learned with their curriculum in school. Maymont also reaches out to schools with Title I designation to make them aware of its scholarship programs for its summer camps and programs.
“A lot of us participate to try and make sure cultural resources are accessible to everybody,” said Melissa Abernathy, communications manager.
Maymont is a part of the Museums for All program, which guarantees access to anyone who is dependent on government subsidized programs. This program also gives eligible participants access to most of Maymont’s events for free.
What’s Next for Maymont
Garrett-Cox says Maymont is focused on giving guests the best experience possible, while keeping that experience authentic.
As Maymont approaches its 100th anniversary as a public space, the Maymont Foundation’s campaign helped to raise funds for a $11.75 million project that enhanced two of Maymont’s most public-facing assets: the Virginia Wildlife Trail and the Maymont Mansion. At the time of this writing, both have reopened to the public after going through renovations. You can read more about those renovations here.
Have you enjoyed a visit to Maymont? Want to support its preservation for years to come? Visit its website, consider a donation or follow the property on social.
