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Top Museums in Bowie, United States
Top Rated Museums in Bowie
Top Reviewed Museums in Bowie
Reviews
Open on weekend days now, this place is fun to take pictures in and has a nice gift shop. I picked up the cutest teacups here 10 years ago.
What a gem of a museum this pla e is! We got a personal tour with tons of history and interesting stories. Admission was free, but we gave a donation for sure. They will be starting to charge a nominal admission fee in July. If you are in the area and have a couple of hours, this place is highly recommended.
What an amazing piece of local history! Free with a self guided tour and a short movie. Very well thought out. You can tell a lot of attention was paid during renovation. Turning into the driveway the mansion is facing you in all its glory! So happy this property wasn't destroyed when the subdivision was built. Definitely take in the stables a block away from the house. Also free and quite interesting. I loved it!!
It was a beautiful day to attend the Bowie Gardening Club's plant sale. The grass was well manicured as well as the grounds. The back of the mansion had rolling hills. It was a sight to see!
Very nice collection. The volunteers are all friendly and knowledgeable. They have a repair facility for restoring your personal old radios too. Great people.
I was looking for a venue to do a prom photoshoot with my daughter when I happened upon Belair mansion online. Despite arriving 30 minutes before closing time we were graciously allowed in and offered a suggestion for the room with the best natural lighting. We used our 30 minutes to get a variety of poses inside, as well as a few outside, and both of us were delighted at the possibilities. I can’t say if it was because we were so late arriving but at 3:30 on Saturday we were the only ones in the mansion and that allowed for us to be creative and comfortable. This is such a beautiful historical museum! Well worth the visit!
Went with my 7 year old and 9 year old. Website claims it’s interactive but tour guide let my kids touch very few things. You have to take a tour with a tour guide, about 30 minutes. The tour guides are nice and knowledgeable, it just wasn’t what I was expecting with two children. If you’re a TV and radio enthusiast, it’s a good place for you. Not for active kids under 10.
Radios are awesome. Great museum. Definitely ask for a tour. Excellent docents. Learned a ton and enjoyed all of it. My 6th grade daughter said "it was cool." My mom found it to be very informative and enjoyed looking at all the artifacts. Definitely worth the trip and maybe even becoming a member! Bring some cash to make a donation. This place is a real gem.
Took my kids here on a field trip with a couple other families. Our tour guide was excellent - knowledgeable, engaging, and patient with the kids.
I had a great time learning about the history of this mansion. The gift shop had some cute unique pieces for sale. Highly recommend visiting if you’re in the area.
I had a great time learning about the history of this mansion. The gift shop had some cute unique pieces for sale. Highly recommend visiting if you’re in the area.
Interesting museum with lots of things to look at. A few hands on activities to try. Our tour guide was very knowledgeable. An excellent learning experience!
The seasonal Elf Hunt was a fun escape for my son. We both really enjoyed ourselves and the gentleman who took the time to explain some of the history of the mansion was delightful. It was well restored and we plan to attend more future events.
Great little museum that often hosts community events for the kids!
This is one of the few places that caringly preserve the enormous legacy of radio and television history. The museum is filled with examples of early television and radio sets, many of which are restored. The tour guides are knowledgeable and provide fascinating insights and historical perspectives. I have visited this museum a few times and greatly appreciate the effort of the volunteers who keep it running.
Did you know This 1907 Stable was part of a stud farm that in the 1740s was the birthplace of American horseracing? In the 20th century it produced the only father-son set of Triple Crown winners! On the Beautiful grounds it has this majestic stone Stables, and up the hill you can tour the Belair Mansion, home to two Maryland governors. Learn about the 40 or more Slaves who built this 2200 arce plantation, and how African American slaves were among the best jockeys. That is until their descendants were banned from horseracing. It must be noted that I work there and would love to show you the physical and cultural history of Bowie, MD.
Radio and TV experts can answer all your questions about some of the coolest, WORKING radio and TV artifacts from the past century. If you're a seasoned citizen it will be hard to drag you out of there!
I visited Belair Mansion in Bowie with my almost 18 month old and my cousin. It’s a quaint historical place. We went around 3 pm on a Saturday in June 2021 and there were maybe 4 other people coming out as we were going in so we basically had the place to ourselves. There are quite a bit of stairs so that’s one thing to keep in mind but there might be an elevator so I would call and ask if that’s a concern. There are things that shouldn’t be touched and areas that are roped off so I carried my daughter so she wouldn’t get us in trouble! Overall it was a nice experience and a great place to learn about local history. It’s free but donations are welcome.
Very good history of the stables
Interesting facts about local horse and history! Tatu, The museum aide was very welcoming and very knowledgeable and even gave us a tour of the StableMasters housing. She informed us of the history of the Woodwards and even pointed out another location for us to visit; the Woodward Mansion. We appreciate her and her hospitality. Thank you! :)
Awesome tour
This museum is an authentic treasure. It's well worth the effort to visit this small, "out of the way" location. The building is full of vintage radio and television equipment from the 1920s through modern day. Everything is in pristine condition and presented in interesting groupings. Our docent, Mr. David Greene, I believe, guided us through the displays spanning the history of radio and telegraph communications from its inception to today's technology. The treasures include ham radio and commercial radio as well as the earliest television sets of the 1950s. I had no idea there was such a thing as a mechanical television. Our docent regaled us with information and descriptions of early radios to include consumer trends and how the various manufacturers marketed their new technology. You will likely see relics from your own past and fondly remember your earliest experience with radio and TV equipment long forgotten but beautifully preserved here. You may find one visit is not enough to fully appreciate it.
Great experience. We watched a short video on the history and then did a self guided tour. Really amazing history and well preserved home. We learned quite a bit just walking thru the house and reading our tour book. One of the hottest days this summer but the house was quite cool and comfortable. Nice walk....lots of stairs.
Person there was very interesting to talk to.Much information.
Great for those who appreciate American History and Equestrian life.