Belair Marker

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Bowie in Prince George's County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Belair

By F. Robby, November 26, 2004

1. Belair Marker

Inscription. Governor Samuel Ogle (1692-1752) owned Belair, built circa 1745. The Georgian Palladian style house stands on a tobacco plantation that included gardens, a vineyard, deer park, horse stables and numerous dependencies. Ogle's son, Benjamin (1748-1809), also served as Maryland's governor from 1798 to 1801. Belair house five generations of Ogles before passing out of family ownership in 1871.

James T. Woodward (1837-1910) purchased the estate in 1898, and began to revive Belair. His nephew William Woodward (1876-1953) inherited Belair in 1910, improving the estate and adding wings designed by New York architects William Delano and Chester Aldrich. Woodward continued the history of Belair's role as the "cradle of thoroughbred racing". From Woodward's first track win in 1909, the Belair stud would acquire fame for the next half century.

Purchased by the William Levitt and Sons developers in 1957, Belair served as the Bowie City Hall from 1864 to 1978. Belair was restored in 1995 and opened in conjunction with the Friends of Belair Estate along with the stable as a part of the City of Bowie Museums System.

Location. 38° 58.014′ N, 76° 44.797′ W. Marker is in Bowie, Maryland, in Prince George's County. Marker is on Tulip Grove Drive ½ mile

By F. Robby, November 26, 2004

2. Belair

west of Collington Road (Maryland Route 197), on the right when traveling east. Click for map. Marker is in this post office area: Bowie MD 20715, United States of America.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 5 miles of this marker, as the crow flies. Belair Stable (approx. 0.2 miles away); Belair Mansion (approx. 0.4 miles away); Holy Trinity Church (approx. 1.7 miles away); Sacred Heart Chapel - White Marsh (approx. 1.9 miles away); Marietta (approx. 2.8 miles away); Bowie Railroad Station Museum (approx. 3.3 miles away); The Bowie Caboose (approx. 3.3 miles away); Middle Plantation (approx. 4.5 miles away). Click for a list of all markers in Bowie.

Credits. This page originally submitted on November 16, 2007, by F. Robby of Baltimore, Maryland. This page has been viewed 1,024 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on November 16, 2007, by F. Robby of Baltimore, Maryland.