Belair Mansion (Bowie, Maryland) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Belair Mansion
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Front of Belair Mansion, August 2007
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| Location | 12207 Tulip Grove Drive in Bowie, Maryland, USA |
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| Nearest city | Bowie, Maryland |
| Area | Architecture, Landscape Architecture, Politics/Government, Social History |
| Built | c. 1745 |
| Architect | Benjamin Tasker, Sr. (original) Delano & Aldrich (1914 expansion) |
| Architectural style | Georgian plantation house |
| NRHP reference No. | 77001520 |
| Added to NRHP | September 16, 1977 |
The Belair Mansion is a historic house in Bowie, Maryland, United States. Built around 1745, it's a beautiful example of Georgian architecture. This grand home was once owned by Samuel Ogle, who was the Governor of Maryland. Later, another Maryland governor also lived here. Today, Belair Mansion is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, which means it's a very important historical site.
Belair is famous for being the only large colonial estate where race horses were bred for over 300 years! It played a huge role in developing thoroughbred horse racing in America. In fact, it's one of only two stables ever to raise two Triple Crown champions. Both the mansion and its nearby stables are now museums, managed by the City of Bowie.
Belair Mansion: A Look Back in Time
How Belair Began
The land where Belair Mansion stands was first a 500-acre property called Catton. It was granted by the Calvert family, who founded the Maryland Colony, in 1681. The land changed hands a few times. In 1700, an extra 100 acres were added, named Enfield Chase.
In 1712, Reverend Jacob Henderson became the minister of Queen Anne's Parish. He married Mary Duvall, who owned the land. In 1721, after a new survey, the property grew to 1,410 acres. It was then renamed Belair.
The Ogle Family Era
Samuel Ogle was appointed Governor of Maryland in 1732. He bought the Belair property in 1737 with a partner, Benjamin Tasker Sr.. Soon after, Ogle bought Tasker's share, becoming the sole owner. In 1739, Governor Ogle married Anne Tasker, Benjamin's daughter.
Building a Grand Home
In 1740, Governor Ogle went to England. He left Benjamin Tasker in charge of building a new house at Belair. When Ogle returned in 1747 with his wife, their new home was ready. It was considered "the grandest in the region." Governor Ogle also brought two famous English horses, Queen Mab and Spark, gifts from Lord Baltimore. This marked the beginning of the famous Belair Stud horse breeding farm.
After Samuel Ogle passed away in 1752, his young son, Benjamin Ogle, inherited Belair. Benjamin went to England for school. When he returned in 1770, he had to go to court to get his family home back. He won in 1774 and moved into the mansion. Benjamin Ogle became good friends with George Washington, who even visited Belair in 1773.
Life at Belair After the Revolution
Benjamin Ogle became the Governor of Maryland in 1798. Belair was a busy plantation. Records from that time describe the mansion with a greenhouse, kitchen, poultry house, and stables. It was a very valuable and well-equipped farm.
Benjamin Ogle passed away in 1809. His son, Benjamin Ogle II, took over the estate and horse farm. When Benjamin Ogle II died in 1844, his sons, George Cooke Ogle and Richard Lowndes Ogle, divided the property. George received the mansion. An interesting rule was that his youngest sister, Rosalie Ogle, could live in her room in the mansion as long as she stayed single.
Changes After the Civil War
Belair was a plantation that relied on a large workforce. When Maryland ended this system in 1864, it greatly changed how plantations like Belair operated. Many landowners found it hard to keep their farms running without their previous workforce. By 1870, Belair Mansion was in poor condition, and George Ogle was in debt. In 1871, the court ordered Belair to be sold to pay off debts.
The property was sold in 1871. Rosalie Ogle, however, still had the right to live in the house. She even took new tenants to court because she didn't want to live with people she felt were "below her station." In 1877, she received money and left the mansion, ending the Ogle family's long ownership of Belair.
New Owners and a New Era
After the Ogles, Belair Mansion changed owners many times and continued to fall apart. The land was also divided into smaller pieces.
The Woodward Family
In 1898, wealthy banker James T. Woodward bought the mansion and 371 acres of land. He lived in New York and Rhode Island, but also spent time at Belair. James invested a lot of money into fixing up Belair. He passed away in 1910 without marrying.
His nephew, William Woodward, Sr., a lawyer and banker, inherited Belair in 1910. He expanded the mansion in 1914, adding two wings. This expansion was designed by famous architects Delano & Aldrich. William Woodward, Sr. also bought more land around Belair and began to develop the Belair Stud horse farm even further.
In 1918, his horses started competing. In 1923, trainer Sunny Jim Fitzsimmons joined Belair. He helped Belair Stud achieve something amazing: two Triple Crown champions! Only one other stable has ever done this. William Woodward, Sr. died in 1953, and his son, William Woodward, Jr., took over.
William Woodward, Jr. loved horse racing. He managed Belair for a short time. After his passing in 1955, the estate was sold.
Belair Becomes a Community
By the time William Woodward, Jr. passed away, the estate had grown to 2,280 acres. In 1957, a company called Levitt and Sons bought the land. They used the mansion and stables as their offices while they built a new suburban neighborhood called "Belair at Bowie."
In 1964, Levitt sold the mansion and 5.5 acres of land, including the Ogle family cemetery, to the City of Bowie for just $1. The city planned to use it as its City Hall. Today, the mansion is part of the historic Belair Development.
Belair Mansion Today
Today, Belair Mansion is located at 12207 Tulip Grove Drive in Bowie, Maryland. It is owned by the City of Bowie and operates as a museum. The nearby Belair Stable Museum is also a museum. Both the mansion and the stables are recognized separately on the National Register of Historic Places.
Belair Mansion's Design
Belair Mansion's design is based on Palladian architecture, which means it focuses on symmetry. The original house has two long front sides, each with a central door and an equal number of windows on either side. Four chimneys support nine fireplaces inside.
The main front of the house faces south and has seven sections. The middle sections are slightly taller and have a triangular roof section called a pediment with a round "bull's-eye" window. The back of the house also has a pediment. All the windows on the first and second floors have curved tops. A brick band runs around the house between the two main floors.
The brick patterns are different on different sides of the house. The north, west, and east sides use a pattern called English bond, while the south side uses Flemish bond with darker bricks. The roof has a heavy decorative edge called a modillion cornice.
The front door on the south side has a small decorative roof supported by fancy brackets and trimmed with molding. It's framed by flat, decorative columns called pilasters. The main entrance on the north side has a simpler frame but is covered by a beautiful portico (a porch with columns) that has a triangular roof and columns with Ionic tops.
The Ogle Family Cemetery
At the edge of the mansion grounds, there is a small cemetery. It contains the grave of Benjamin Ogle II. His tombstone says he died in 1845, though some records say 1844.
Other family members buried here include:
- Benjamin Ogle II's wife, Anna Maria Cooke Ogle (1777–1856)
- Priscilla Mackall Ogle (1825–1859)
- Anna Maria Ogle (1849–1851)
