Richmond has the distinction of being one of the oldest cities in the United States, so it’s only fitting that it’s home to the oldest public Japanese garden on the East Coast. Located at the historic Maymont estate, the garden is a tranquil, meditative space of reflection in the center of Virginia’s capital. A waterfall and koi pond, arched bridges, and meticulously trimmed trees and shrubs all offer visitors a nature-centered reprieve in this garden that was first built in 1911.
The Maymont estate was built in 1893 for James Dooley, a millionaire who made his fortune from steel, iron, railroads, and land. Dooley and his wife, Sallie, built Japanese and Italian gardens on their 100-acre property to complement their Gilded Age mansion. In 1926, after they both died, Maymont was given to the city of Richmond and turned into a public park.
With a current 4.8-star average on Google with over 10,100 reviews, plus the top ranking on Tripadvisor for Richmond’s best parks, it’s clear that Maymont is considered one of the city’s prettiest parks. The Japanese Garden, in particular, is a favorite location, as hundreds mention it in their reviews. One user said, “It truly is one of Richmond’s greatest gems. Stepping into the Japanese Garden is like being instantly transported to another world. … It’s a deeply shaded, cool, and intimate area that offers a wonderful escape.”
The transformation of the Maymont Japanese Garden
The nation’s first public Japanese garden opened in 1894 with the tranquil landscapes of Golden Gate Park’s tea garden, and it wasn’t long before the eastward-looking trend moved, well, east. The Dooleys enlisted the expertise of a garden master who had designed private Japanese-style landscapes around the East Coast. The space was designed to embody a journey from the mountains to the sea using elements like a man-made cascading waterfall, a pond path, and shaped trees…