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Maymont

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Coordinates: 37°32′7″N 77°28′40″W / 37.53528°N 77.47778°W / 37.53528; -77.47778
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For the village in Saskatchewan, Canada, see Maymont, Saskatchewan.
Maymont
Maymont Mansion was originally owned by Maj. James H. Dooley and his wife Sallie.
Map
LocationEntrances at 2201 Shields Lake Drive, 1700 Hampton Street, Richmond, Virginia
Coordinates37°32′7″N 77°28′40″W / 37.53528°N 77.47778°W / 37.53528; -77.47778
Area100 acres (40 ha)
Created1925 (1925)
Operated byMaymont Foundation
Visitors527,153 (in 2013)[1]
OpenYear-round
Websitehttp://www.maymont.org/
Maymont
Area100 acres (40.5 ha)
Built1890
ArchitectEdgerton S. Rogers
NRHP reference No.71001062[2]
VLR No.127-0182
Significant dates
Added to NRHPDecember 16, 1971
Designated VLRJuly 6, 1971[3]

Maymont is a 100-acre (0.156 m²) 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.

History

Maymont was named for Major Dooley's wife, Sallie May.[4] Construction began in 1890,[5] with the mansion completed in 1893.[6]

The Dooleys also built a summer home on Afton Mountain, Swannanoa, which was completed in 1913.[6]

In 2011, Maymont was named one of the top 10 public spaces by the American Planning Association.

Gardens

The Japanese Garden.

The Japanese Garden at Maymont is well tended and features a koi pond and a large waterfall. The Japanese Garden also has a torii arch, rock gardens, and various red maples.[7] The Italian Garden features a pergola, fountains, urns and roses.

The arboretum contains more than 200 species of trees and woody plants. It includes a number of "exotic champions" including a Cedrus atlantica, Cryptomeria japonica, Parrotia persica, and Tilia europea.

Maymont's gardens are popular for outdoor weddings focused around the Italian Garden, the Japanese Garden and numerous gazebos located throughout the grounds.

Fauna

In addition to the farm animals that it keeps in the Children's Farm, Maymont is the permanent home of several animals that are native to the Commonwealth. Many of these have been injured and are otherwise unable to live in the wild. These animals include bald eagles, a bobcat, black bears and foxes. Visitors are also able to see white-tailed deer, elk, and American bison.

  • A view from Maymont.
    A view from Maymont.
  • Maymont in the winter.
    Maymont in the winter.
  • Terrace Waterfall in May.
    Terrace Waterfall in May.
  • Wisteria covered pergola
    Wisteria covered pergola

See also

References

  1. ^ Calos, Katherine (21 February 2014). "Maymont most-visited museum in Richmond, figures show". Richmond Times-Dispatch. Retrieved 22 February 2014.
  2. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
  3. ^ "Virginia Landmarks Register". Virginia Department of Historic Resources. Retrieved 19 March 2013.
  4. ^ Wilson, Richard Guy (2002). Buildings of Virginia: Tidewater and Piedmont. Oxford University Press. pp. 267–268. ISBN 0-19-515206-9.
  5. ^ "127-0182 Maymont 1971 Final" (PDF). National Register Nomination. Virginia Department of Historic Resources. Retrieved Mar 1, 2011.
  6. ^ a b Brownell, Charles E (1922). The Making of Virginia Architecture. Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. pp. 342–343. ISBN 0-917046-34-X.
  7. ^ Hooe, Austin. "Maymont Park: Richmond's Top Location for Outdoor Enjoyment". Everett Properties. Retrieved 18 July 2015.
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