The Maymont mansion is 12,000 square feet and has 33 rooms. It’s open for tours six days a week. Photos by Evelyn Rupert.
The “Jewel on the James” is raising money for a $35 million polishing.
Maymont, the 128-year-old estate built by Richmond philanthropists James Henry Dooley and Sallie May Dooley, is in the midst of its first major capital campaign since the 1990s.
Norman Burns, executive director of the Maymont Foundation, said the “Spirit of Generosity” campaign has raised $17.5 million – about half its goal.
The nonprofit foundation, which oversees the operation of the 100-acre estate, has broken down its fundraising goal into four project areas: welcome plazas, preservation and interpretation, guest amenities and operating endowments.
“It’s really about taking the Maymont everybody loves and making it better,” Burns said.
Maymont’s grounds include gardens, an arboretum, walking paths, wildlife exhibits, a nature center and Maymont Mansion, the Dooleys’ 33-room home.
Maymont has three entrances, and the foundation has budgeted $15 million for entrance-related projects that include improving the Robins Nature and Visitor Center, Children’s Farm and Hampton Street arrival plaza.
The building at Westover Street and Shirley Lane will serve as the foundation’s new headquarters after renovations.
The biggest task on the list, however, is transforming a building next to Maymont into a headquarters for the foundation.
“The foundation’s address is a parking lot, not a building,” Burns said. “We’ve never had a headquarters.”
The building, at 1000 Westover Road, will be renovated and enlarged to accommodate offices. Right now, the foundation’s offices are spread out in various historic buildings on Maymont’s 100 acres.
Once staff members move out, they can convert the historic buildings – like Maymont’s carriage house and stone barn – back to their original uses.
“The Stone Barn is a remarkable building and it has a wonderful view of the James River,” Burns said. “Many people don’t really know that because we haven’t been able to use it that way.”
Preservation and interpretation projects, which have an $8 million budget, include improvements to the estate, its wildlife habitats, gardens and grounds, and infrastructure.
Burns said the foundation wants to make wildlife habitats better for the animals and easier to see for guests. Maymont features a variety of animals native to Virginia including bears, bald eagles and otters, and it’s considering adding a mountain lion exhibit. The foundation also wants Maymont to become more of a leader in conservation efforts.
Another $2 million will be used to improve the guest experience. That includes upgrades to roadways, walking paths and restrooms and the installation of interpretive and way-finding signs to help guests get around and learn more about the sights.
“Wandering around Maymont is OK, but we don’t want people to wonder,” Burns said.
Maymont’s grounds include an Italian, Japanese and herb garden.
The final piece of the project – $10 million – will be used to create operating endowments to keep Maymont running in the future.
Maymont has an annual operating budget of $4 million. It costs about $13,000 a day to run the property. It has 51 full-time employees, 42 part-time employees and used more than 900 volunteers last year.
Burns said people often think Maymont is cared for with a giant endowment left by the Dooleys or city funds.
The Dooleys donated the estate to the city in 1925, but left no endowment. Although the city of Richmond owns the property, the Maymont Foundation has managed it since 1975, and the city only gives a small sum toward its care.
Revenue from the suggested admission of $5 doesn’t generate nearly enough to keep things going, so Maymont relies heavily on its donors, Burns said. Donations account for 80 percent of Maymont’s operating budget.
Local philanthropists Kathie and Steve Markel gave a lead gift of $5 million in 2012 to get the capital campaign going.
“This is a place we not only love but need to support so it can be maintained,” Kathie Markel said.
Markel, a longtime Maymont board member, said she and her husband support the cause because it can have such a large impact on the community.
“Maymont isn’t broken,” she said. “It just needs a little bit of sprucing up.”
Stanton Thalhimer, who is co-chairing the capital campaign with David Camden, said Maymont has been underfunded for years. He thinks the plans will “enhance the entire estate.”
“It’s quite a treasure we have here in Richmond, and most people take for granted that it’ll be here forever,” Thalhimer said.
The Maymont mansion is 12,000 square feet and has 33 rooms. It’s open for tours six days a week. Photos by Evelyn Rupert.
The “Jewel on the James” is raising money for a $35 million polishing.
Maymont, the 128-year-old estate built by Richmond philanthropists James Henry Dooley and Sallie May Dooley, is in the midst of its first major capital campaign since the 1990s.
Norman Burns, executive director of the Maymont Foundation, said the “Spirit of Generosity” campaign has raised $17.5 million – about half its goal.
The nonprofit foundation, which oversees the operation of the 100-acre estate, has broken down its fundraising goal into four project areas: welcome plazas, preservation and interpretation, guest amenities and operating endowments.
“It’s really about taking the Maymont everybody loves and making it better,” Burns said.
Maymont’s grounds include gardens, an arboretum, walking paths, wildlife exhibits, a nature center and Maymont Mansion, the Dooleys’ 33-room home.
Maymont has three entrances, and the foundation has budgeted $15 million for entrance-related projects that include improving the Robins Nature and Visitor Center, Children’s Farm and Hampton Street arrival plaza.
The building at Westover Street and Shirley Lane will serve as the foundation’s new headquarters after renovations.
The biggest task on the list, however, is transforming a building next to Maymont into a headquarters for the foundation.
“The foundation’s address is a parking lot, not a building,” Burns said. “We’ve never had a headquarters.”
The building, at 1000 Westover Road, will be renovated and enlarged to accommodate offices. Right now, the foundation’s offices are spread out in various historic buildings on Maymont’s 100 acres.
Once staff members move out, they can convert the historic buildings – like Maymont’s carriage house and stone barn – back to their original uses.
“The Stone Barn is a remarkable building and it has a wonderful view of the James River,” Burns said. “Many people don’t really know that because we haven’t been able to use it that way.”
Preservation and interpretation projects, which have an $8 million budget, include improvements to the estate, its wildlife habitats, gardens and grounds, and infrastructure.
Burns said the foundation wants to make wildlife habitats better for the animals and easier to see for guests. Maymont features a variety of animals native to Virginia including bears, bald eagles and otters, and it’s considering adding a mountain lion exhibit. The foundation also wants Maymont to become more of a leader in conservation efforts.
Another $2 million will be used to improve the guest experience. That includes upgrades to roadways, walking paths and restrooms and the installation of interpretive and way-finding signs to help guests get around and learn more about the sights.
“Wandering around Maymont is OK, but we don’t want people to wonder,” Burns said.
Maymont’s grounds include an Italian, Japanese and herb garden.
The final piece of the project – $10 million – will be used to create operating endowments to keep Maymont running in the future.
Maymont has an annual operating budget of $4 million. It costs about $13,000 a day to run the property. It has 51 full-time employees, 42 part-time employees and used more than 900 volunteers last year.
Burns said people often think Maymont is cared for with a giant endowment left by the Dooleys or city funds.
The Dooleys donated the estate to the city in 1925, but left no endowment. Although the city of Richmond owns the property, the Maymont Foundation has managed it since 1975, and the city only gives a small sum toward its care.
Revenue from the suggested admission of $5 doesn’t generate nearly enough to keep things going, so Maymont relies heavily on its donors, Burns said. Donations account for 80 percent of Maymont’s operating budget.
Local philanthropists Kathie and Steve Markel gave a lead gift of $5 million in 2012 to get the capital campaign going.
“This is a place we not only love but need to support so it can be maintained,” Kathie Markel said.
Markel, a longtime Maymont board member, said she and her husband support the cause because it can have such a large impact on the community.
“Maymont isn’t broken,” she said. “It just needs a little bit of sprucing up.”
Stanton Thalhimer, who is co-chairing the capital campaign with David Camden, said Maymont has been underfunded for years. He thinks the plans will “enhance the entire estate.”
“It’s quite a treasure we have here in Richmond, and most people take for granted that it’ll be here forever,” Thalhimer said.
Great article…and thanks!