Maymont turns 100 with a yearlong slate of reopenings, festivals, and reflection

In 2026, Maymont will mark 100 years as a public park, a transformation that began when the former private estate opened to visitors on New Year’s Day in 1926. At the time, the freedom to roam 100 acres of gardens and green space was a novelty, and public interest was immediate: the mansion itself opened on March 16th of that year and drew more than 55,000 visitors in its first year alone.

A century later, Maymont is one of Richmond’s most visited cultural sites, drawing more than a million visitors annually. The anniversary year leans into that popularity with a mix of high-profile reopenings, longtime crowd favorites, and a large public celebration planned for early summer.

A milestone year anchored by reopenings

Two of Maymont’s most visible assets are scheduled to return this spring after extended closures and upgrades.

On Saturday, March 21st, the Maymont Mansion will reopen following two years of restoration work. The 1893 home now features a new red slate roof, conservation work throughout the interior, and a modern climate control system designed to better protect the historic structure and its collections. While Maymont has highlighted the visible improvements, the reopening also reflects a broader trend among historic house museums toward expensive but necessary infrastructure investments that are often invisible to visitors.

Less than a month later, on Saturday, April 18th, Maymont plans a “Grrrrrand Reopening” of the Virginia Wildlife Trail. The area has been redesigned with remodeled animal habitats, improved accessibility, and closer viewing areas for rescued and rehabilitated wildlife. The upgrades address longstanding concerns about accessibility on the trail, though Maymont has not released details about the total cost or funding sources for the work.

June 6th birthday celebration and community storytelling

The centerpiece of the anniversary year is set for Saturday, June 6th, when Maymont will host a full-day, family-focused event titled Cheers to 100 Years. The celebration is expected to include animal keeper talks, tours of the house and gardens, live entertainment, and open access to the grounds.

Leading up to that event, Maymont has invited the public to submit photos, videos, and written memories through an online portal. Since summer, more than 750 submissions have been collected, and selected entries have been shared on the anniversary section of the Maymont website. The effort underscores how much the site’s identity has shifted since 1926—from a carefully preserved estate to a space shaped as much by public use as by historical interpretation.

A packed events calendar, familiar and new

In addition to anniversary-specific programming, Maymont will roll out its full lineup of annual events in 2026, many of which have grown into regional draws:

• February 28th – World Wildlife Day

• April 4th – Dominion Energy Family Easter

• April 25th – Herbs Galore plant sale

• May 16th – Vintage on the Green gala

• June 5th – Summer Kickoff Concert

• September 26th–27th – Bier-Garden

• October 14th through November 15th – Garden Glow

• December 5th–6th – Merry Market

Educational programming will also continue year-round, including night hikes, gardening workshops, toddler programs, day camps, and summer camps. A full schedule is available at Maymont’s calendar page at Maymont.org.

Looking back—and ahead

Maymont’s centennial arrives at a moment when many historic sites are reexamining how they balance preservation, access, and financial sustainability. While the anniversary celebrations focus on continuity and community, the scale of recent restoration and infrastructure projects points to the ongoing cost of maintaining a 100-year-old public asset.

Still, the story of Maymont’s first century is inseparable from Richmond itself: a former private estate that became, through public ownership and evolving expectations, one of the city’s most heavily used and broadly shared spaces. The events planned for 2026 aim to celebrate that legacy while reinforcing Maymont’s role not just as a historic site, but as an active, living part of the city’s civic life.