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

William Levitt and Sons, Belair-at-Bowie

Photographed by Allen C. Browne, April 21, 2013

1. William Levitt and Sons, Belair-at-Bowie Marker

Inscription. The Levitt family revolutionized the building industry beginning in the 1920s. During World War II they created an efficient production-line assembly of houses establishing the post-war look of American suburbs. The first Levittown of Long Island appealed to returning veteran s and their families with low interest G.I. loans. More Levittowns followed in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, with smaller developments in Maryland, Virginia ,Florida, Puerto Rico and France.

In August 1957 William J. Levitt paid $1,750,000 for the historic Belair estate. The Levitt firm persuaded the Bowie town commissioners to annex the new 2,200 acre development, and Levitt built thousands of moderately priced houses during the 1960s and 1970s. houses rose on concrete slabs in assembly line fashion, finishing six to ten a day. Each house included a complete kitchen, laundry, with washer and dryer, and central air conditioning.

Here on Sussex Lane the Levitt corporation presented six house styles built as the model show homes. The Manor House at the end of the street with the columns was dropped, but the Cape Cod, Rancher, 3-bedroom and 4 bedroom

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colonial and country clubber models formed a self-contained community divided into distinctive alphabetical cluster neighborhoods.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1957.

Location. 38° 58.64′ N, 76° 44.475′ W. Marker is in Bowie, Maryland, in Prince George's County. It is at the intersection of Belair Drive and Annapolis Road (Maryland Route 450), on the left when traveling south on Belair Drive. The marker is on the south east corner of Annapolis Rd & Belair Drive in Bowie, MD 20715. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Bowie MD 20715, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Washington Metropolitan Area.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

and in the Mid-Atlantic.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once one of the original Thirteen Colonies

and also the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other

Photographed by Allen C. Browne, April 21, 2013

2. William Levitt and Sons, Belair-at-Bowie Marker

markers are within walking distance of this marker: Andrew Jackson (approx. ¾ mile away); Belair Stable (approx. ¾ mile away); The Stable Courtyard (approx. ¾ mile away); a different marker also named Belair Stable (approx. ¾ mile away); Belair (approx. 0.8 miles away); The Belair Stud Farm (approx. 0.8 miles away); Belair on the Home Front (approx. 0.8 miles away); Developing a Garden Plan (approx. 0.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Bowie.

Also see . . .
1. Levitt and Sons Belair Development. Maryland Inventory of Historic Places website entry (Submitted on April 26, 2013, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland.)

2. Belaire at Bowie. Society of Architectural Historians website entry (Submitted on June 14, 2025, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)

Photographed by Allen C. Browne, April 21, 2013

3. William Levitt and Sons, Belair-at-Bowie Marker

The Manor House image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Allen C. Browne, April 21, 2013

4. The Manor House

Model Home on Sussex Lane

Photographed by Allen C. Browne, April 21, 2013

5. The Manor House

"The house at number 12401 Sussex Lane was the display model for The Manor House, the largest considered for construction at Belair. It was one of twelve models built between 1960 and 1967 on Sussex Lane, which comprised the sales and exhibit center for Belair at Bowie, Maryland. They line the south side of the street,facing north across a grassy park in full view of MD Route 450, which at the time was one of the major east-west arteries between Washington and Annapolis. This particular example was ultimately the only one built at Belair as the firm discontinued the model before any were constructed elsewhere in the development. The building was subsequently used by Levitt and Sons as its sales office until the completion of Belair's single-family sections in 1968 at which time it was reconverted into a house and, like the other display models, sold for residential occupancy." -- James A. Jacobs, HABS Historian

Homeowner's Kit image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Allen C. Browne, April 20, 2013

6. Homeowner's Kit

on display at Belair Mansion

Homeowner's Guide image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Allen C. Browne, April 20, 2013

7. Homeowner's Guide

Developer William Levitt image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Allen C. Browne, April 21, 2013

8. Developer William Levitt

from a display in the Bowie Railroad Museum

Horse Race Sculpture image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Allen C. Browne, April 21, 2013

9. Horse Race Sculpture

by Donna M. McCullough
(just east of the marker)

McCullough Plaque image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Allen C. Browne, April 21, 2013

10. McCullough Plaque

Dedicated to the
History of Horse Racing
in Bowie
Donna McCullough,Artist
Funding and Support Provided by:
Bowie City Council
Bowie Arts Committee
Prince George's Arts Council
August 2002

Credits. This page was last revised on June 14, 2025. It was originally submitted on April 25, 2013, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. This page has been viewed 4,109 times since then and 184 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10. submitted on April 25, 2013, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.