Belair Stable Museum (Bowie, Maryland)

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Belair Stables
Belair Stables.jpg
Front of Belair Stable Museum, August 2007
Location2835 Belair Drive in Bowie, Maryland, USA
Nearest city Bowie, Maryland
Coordinates 38°57′58″N76°44′36″W / 38.96611°N 76.74333°W / 38.96611; -76.74333
AreaArchitecture, Sport - Horse Racing [1]
Builtcirca 1907
Architectural style Georgian
NRHP reference No. 73002163

The Belair Stable Museum is located at 2835 Belair Drive in Bowie, Maryland. It is operated by the City of Bowie, Maryland. The building once housed the Belair Stud Farm until 1957 when the Woodward family sold the Belair Estate to Levitt & Sons for the construction of Belair at Bowie.

Contents

This U-shaped sandstone equine stable was built in 1907 for James T. Woodward, then owner of the Belair Mansion. The elaborate stable building reflects Belair's long and distinguished association with thoroughbred horse racing and breeding. [2]

The stable sits on 2 acres (8,100 m2) located about 1000  feet northeast of the Belair Mansion. Once part of the large estate, the stable building is now surrounded by residential development. The building itself is a U-shaped structure with a 1+12-story main block and single-story flanking wings, forming an open exercise yard to the center. [2]

Interior of the North Wing of the Stables looking West Belair Stables interior.jpg
Interior of the North Wing of the Stables looking West

Further reading

Harrison, Fairfax; Lasker, Edward; Lasker, Cynthia (1929). The Belair Stud 1747–1761. Richmond, Virginia: Old Dominion Press. ISBN   9780598509536. OCLC   3367781.

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References

  1. Fiehler, Leonard E (1972), National Register of Historic Places Inventory – Nomination Form: Belair Stables PG:71B-5 (PDF), vol. PG:71B-5, United States Department of the Interior, National Park Service
  2. 1 2 Lavoie, Catherine C. (1991), Historic American Buildings Survey: Belair Stables, vol. MD-87A, Washington, D.C.: National Park Service