Maymont Celebrates 100!

A century of nature, history and connection.

Aerial photo of Maymont grounds during fall with fall foliage throughout the trees. The Maymont Mansion is in view with a newly renovated red slate roof.
1926 family photo at Maymont
Maymont's logo in the shape of an M with curves portraying hills in their brand colors of dark blue, light blue, orange and green; plus text "100 years MAYMONT"

Maymont reaches a milestone in 2026: 100 years as a treasured public space. It’s woven into the lives of generations of Richmonders, part of what makes the community unique. Maymont is our common ground to relax, explore, meet animals, admire the seasons, step into history, bring a date, enjoy a concert, take photos, and wow out-of-town visitors. Each day, in so many ways, Maymont continues to delight, educate and inspire all who visit.

This year will be extra special as we wrap up the Maymont 2025 initiative — the largest single investment in historic preservation and enhancing guest experience.

Community Celebrations

Let’s celebrate what Maymont means together as a community with a series of special events, including the reopening of the carefully preserved Maymont Mansion in March and the enhanced Virginia Wildlife Trail on May 2, plus a weekend of celebrating with Summer Kickoff Concert on Friday, June 5 and Cheers to 100 Years on Saturday, June 6. Click below for event details.

Ways to Engage in Maymont's 100th

PLAY the Centennial Challenge (free, app-based game)
ATTEND the Speaker Series (registration required)
VOLUNTEER at a Community Celebration

A Richmond Icon, 100 Years in the Making

In January 1926, the City of Richmond opened the gates to the Dooleys’ once-private Gilded Age estate and welcomed the public into their newest city park. Visitors were enchanted with the freedom to explore 100 acres of unspoiled riverside terrain and landscaped Italian and Japanese gardens in the heart of the city.

On March 16, 1926, the city opened the mansion with its intact historic collection, and welcomed more than 55,000 visitors in the first year alone. Many more visitors flocked to the grounds for picnics, strolls and Easter parades in the first few years. Over the next few decades the city added paved pathways and restrooms and produced brochures for out-of-town visitors.

Mid-Century

By mid-century, a growing environmental awareness inspired local visionaries and civic groups to add educational facilities and animal habitats to the centrally located park. Care was taken to respect the original landscape and buildings on the historic side of the property. The Maymont Foundation was created in 1975 to help bring these visions to life and raise funds for much-needed restoration and preservation work to the mansion and historic collections, as well as the Japanese and Italian gardens.

A Century Later

Today, Maymont is a favorite place for families to experience picnics, class trips, first dates, weddings, concerts and festivals. Locals proudly bring visitors to Maymont to show off their city’s best features: Walking trails and majestic trees, views of the James River, well-preserved historic architecture and world-class landscape design. Maymont is an urban oasis: a protected 100 acres of ecosystem with native rescued wildlife habitats and an interactive nature center, and a shared space to unwind on a peaceful stroll or while watching farm animals peacefully grazing.

With philanthropic support from across the community and strategic grants and fundraising events, Maymont has significantly enhanced its capacity. Now, over a million people visit annually for the unique experiences that can only happen at Maymont!

A Timeline: From 1926 to Today

Ways to Support Maymont's Future

This special place belongs to all of us and depends on the community for more than 90% of our funding.
Help us care for these 100 acres for 100 more years, and beyond!

Maymont Moments Over the Years

Submissions from our Maymont Moments oral history campaign. Submit your stories!

1959 black and white photo of family posed on the stairs of the Italian Garden's Cascade Fountain stairs. Credit Claudia E Wall
Collage of family posing in Maymont's Japanese Garden. Credit Travina Parker Rohrbaugh
Proposal at the Maymont Japanese Garden, credit Will Battler
Newly married couple posing in a Maymont Gazebo. Credit Chelsea Piersanti
Kids at the Maymont Mansion. 70's era. Credit Gwendolyn Fowlkes Harvey
Three people dress in living history attire to represent Maymont Mansion house workers, credit Liz Guarnieri
Couple kissing under arched entry of the Maymont Mansion. Taken in 2019 by Tori Russell
Kids at Maymont Farm, C. Heather Ramsey
Adult and child posed at the bear statue with spring flowers in bloom in the background. Credit Travina Parker Rohrbaugh
Dad and boy with cow, Credit Alfonso Ten
Girl listening to audio tour in Maymont Mansion, Credit Gary Morgan
Maymont horses with volunteer, credit Marie Carney
Wedding at Maymont's Italian Garden with a white train going all the way down the isle, 1985 credit Elbert David Elswick

Anniversary Merchandise

Limited-edition Maymont merchandise for you to commemorate 100 years!
The Robins Nature Center and Stone Barn Welcome Center gift shops have all this and more.
An off-white beanie with a pom pom on the top has an embroidered logo that reads 100 years MAYMONT

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