HOUSES
SECTIONS
 THE
 BELAIR MANSION
      AND  STABLES

In 1957, Levitt and Sons, Inc. purchased the Belair Estate in Bowie, Md.  Belair was well known for breeding horses--the Belair Stud Farm.  Bowie and Belair were known as the "cradle of American Thoroughbred racing."  Thoroughbred racing was introduced and popularized by Gov. Samuel Ogle, who commissioned the construction of the Belair Mansion for his residence in 1745.  The Belair Stable was home to Gallant Fox and Omaha, father and son Triple Crown winners, and Nashua, 1955 "Horse of the Year."


The Belair Mansion

Both the Mansion and Stables were preserved during the subdivision of Belair.  During the construction of Belair, the Mansion served as offices for Levitt and Sons, and housed a branch of the Prince Georges County Police.

The Mansion and Stables have now been restored.  They are open to the public for tours and are operated by the City of Bowie and supported by the Friends of the Belair Estate.  The stable is located at 2835 Belair Drive, and the mansion is located at 12207 Tulip Grove Drive.
Source: City of Bowie
BELAIR
    THE SECTIONS   

BELAIR AT BOWIE   
Somerset
1960-1961
Buckingham
1961-1962
Kenilworth
1962-1963
Foxhill
1962-1963
Tulip Grove
1963-1964
Longridge
1964-1965

Meadowbrook
1964-
Heather Hills
1965-
Chapel Forge
1965-1966

Whitehall
1966

Rockledge
1967
Overbrook
1967-1968
Yorktown
1967-1968

Idlewild
1967-1968

Belair Town
1968-1969
Victoria Heights
1968

Belair Town II
1969-1970
BELAIR VILLAGE    
Pointer Ridge (South)
1968-1971
Amber Meadows
1969-1971

LAKE VILLAGE        Pointer Ridge (North)
1971-1973
Northview
1974-1978
BELAIR AT BOWIE
           M  A  R  Y  L  A  N  D
THE BELAIR EXHIBIT CENTER IS UNDERGOING REMODELING.
PLEASE VISIT THIS TEMPORARY SITE UNTIL THE GRAND REOPENING OF THE ALL-NEW BELAIR EXHIBIT CENTER.
Location: City of Bowie in Prince Georges County, about midway between Washington, D.C. and Annapolis.

Served by Routes U.S. 50/ I-595, U.S. 301, Md. 3, Md. 197, and Md. 450.

Belair Exhibit homes opened to the public October 8, 1960, located on Sussex Lane fronting on Route Md. 450.

Belair Estate purchased by Levitt and Sons, Inc. in 1957; property annexed by the Town of Bowie in 1959.  Bowie reincorporated as a city in 1963.

Official web site of Bowie, Md.: http://www.cityofbowie.org/

OPENING DAY OF BELAIR EXHIBIT CENTER
SUSSEX LANE OFF ROUTE U.S. 50 (NOW MD. 450)
OCTOBER 8, 1960

Source: House & Home, January 1961
WASHINGTON POST PREVIEW ARTICLE ON BELAIR
(Enlargement of text at right)

Source: Washington Post, October 1, 1960

SUSSEX LANE: FORMER SAMPLE HOMES FOR BELAIR
APRIL 26, 2004 (INSET PHOTO OCTOBER 1, 1960)