Maymont, Richmond, VA

Maymont is a 100-acre Victorian estate and public park in Richmond, Virginia.  It contains Maymont Mansion, now a historic house museum, an arboretum, formal gardens, a carriage collection, native wildlife exhibits, a nature center, and Children’s Farm.

In 1893, Major James H. Dooley, a wealthy Richmond lawyer and philanthropist, and his wife, Sallie, completed their elaborate Gilded Age estate on a site high above the James River. According to their wishes, after their deaths Maymont was left to the people of Richmond. Over the next 75 years, additional attractions were added.

We took a guided tour of the inside of the mansion. It is 13,000 sq. ft. mansion. It is very beautiful inside but we really enjoyed the grounds with the beautiful Chinese and Italian gardens. They also owned a 22,000 sq. ft. mansion called Swannanoa.