Maymont at 100: Celebrating Richmond's Historic Estate
story by Kari Smith
For generations of Richmonders, Maymont has woven itself into life’s milestones, from kindergarten field trips at the farm to graduation and wedding photos in the park’s gardens.
In 1893, Richmond philanthropists James and Sallie Dooley built Maymont, which they bequeathed to the City of Richmond upon Sallie’s death in 1925. Over the past century, it has become one of the region’s most beloved spaces, welcoming over 1 million visitors annually.
Today, Maymont encompasses 100 acres where preserved history coexists with contemporary events such as Dominion Energy Family Easter, Music at Maymont, Garden Glow (October–November), and Merry Market (December).
As Maymont celebrates its 100th anniversary as a public estate in 2026, it announces completion of one of the largest preservation efforts in its history: Maymont 2025, a transformational project that will have a lasting impact on the Maymont Mansion and Virginia Wildlife Trail.
A Century of Evolution
After being gifted the property, the City of Richmond added basic infrastructure improvements such as paved pathways and restrooms, but it remained largely as the Dooleys left it.
By 1970, a national trend became clear: Cities alone could no longer sustain large historic parks. After a newspaper labeled the deteriorating mansion the “City’s Albatross,” restoration began, and in 1971, Maymont was listed on the Virginia Landmarks Register and National Register of Historic Places. The formation of the Maymont Foundation in 1975 marked a pivotal shift to a nonprofit model, enabling long-term fundraising and preservation. Over the following decades, Maymont expanded educational programming, adding the Maymont Farm in 1982 and The Robins Nature Center in 1999.
In 2022, the park was awarded an $8 million grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration. Combined with $3.75 million from private sources, the total investment of $11.75 million funded the Maymont 2025 project.
For Kathy Garrett-Cox, the park’s curator and director of historical resources and collections, the renovations represent both continuity and renewal. “Since the Maymont Foundation was established, sustained community support has helped steward the historic collections and grounds and provide care for wildlife and educational programs,” she says. “The Maymont 2025 enhancements allow guests more opportunities for education, more up-close encounters with animal ambassadors and wildlife, and a chance to see the mansion in a whole new light.”
A Mansion Renewed from the Inside Out
One of the prominent features of the park is Maymont Mansion. With no second generation of Dooleys to remodel interiors, its historical accuracy remains remarkably intact, offering a rare snapshot of life spanning the Gilded Age through the Jazz Age. Often mistaken for Victorian, the home is Romanesque Revival, with modern touches such as electricity, gas lighting, and accommodations for automobiles alongside carriages. Its estate buildings — including stables, carriage house, and gardeners’ cottages designed by Richmond architecture firm Noland & Baskervill — form a cohesive, village-like arrangement.
To facilitate the renovation, collections managers sent select items out for conservation and worked with renowned Atelier Fine Art Services to pack, transport, and store the mansion’s contents while documenting precise locations of over 5,000 items for accurate reinstallation.
An upgraded climate control system will protect sensitive artwork and furnishings, improve air quality, and keep guests comfortable. Updated fire and smoke detection systems were installed throughout the mansion, and a structural reinforcement beam was added.
The mansion’s roof — last replaced with a gray Buckingham Slate roof by the city in 1961 — was restored using red slate sourced from a New England quarry matched to the original tone. Early photographs reveal that the roof was designed to complement the mansion’s red window trim, pink columns, and blush tones in the surrounding walkways. This coordination remains true to the architect’s intent.
The renovation also allowed curatorial staff to revisit questions of historical accuracy. Paint analysis led to refined color choices in several rooms, where walls and accents were updated to reflect the original palette. The work reflects a research-driven approach that prioritizes authenticity.
Another noteworthy decision was reinterpreting the arrangement of the bedroom suites. Guests have for years seen the Cherry Room arranged for use by the Dooley’s’ niece, Florence Elder, who moved in to help care for the aging couple before their passing. “Originally, it was James Dooley’s bedroom, adjacent to Sallie’s on the front of the home, with views toward the James River,” Garrett-Cox explains. “The guest room suite had for many years been arranged as Mr. Dooley’s bedroom, but now we’ve restored it to a guest room arrangement.”
A Reimagined Virginia Wildlife Trail
While the mansion renovation preserves Maymont’s architectural and cultural legacy, the Virginia Wildlife Trail renovation looks to the future by improving accessibility, capacity, and educational engagement.
The redesigned trail features interconnected pathways that make it easier for visitors of all abilities to move between animal habitats. A new pathway now leads to the recently updated Fox Bridge, and a new bridge has been installed near the bald eagle habitat. New viewing platforms and interpretive signage, as well as keeper talks and animal encounters with staff and wildlife ambassadors boost the park’s educational reach.
Animal welfare played a central role in the redesign. Expanded habitat layouts reflect natural behaviors while giving keepers improved access for enrichment activities, medical exams, and vaccinations.
Krista Weatherford, director of programming and curator of natural resources at Maymont, also shares that new habitats have been added for coyote and porcupine. “Coyotes in urban and rural spaces can raise anxiety, and we want to help people understand them better. Porcupines help tell the stories of species that were once prevalent in Virginia but became locally extinct. These natural histories help us to understand more about the impacts that humans have on native wildlife and educate the community on how to reduce our impact on wildlife populations.”
The renovated mansion reopens March 21, followed by the Virginia Wildlife Trail on April 18. A centennial celebration on June 6 will feature family events, animal keeper talks, and live entertainment.
As Maymont enters its second century as a public treasure, preservation is not about freezing it in time but about caring for it thoughtfully so it can educate, inspire, and gather the community for generations to come.