Bowie: History, Trails and Special Experiences

Bowie combines historical discoveries with active days outdoors and seasonal experiences.

Historic Places with Their Own Character

Belair Mansion is a special starting point for exploring cultural history. Built around 1745, the historic house is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is connected with Bowie's earliest history. Inside, the life stories of its residents from 1747 to 1950 are presented. Self-guided tours are available on Saturdays and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. These set times help you plan a visit around other activities.

The Belair heritage also includes the Belair Stable Museum. It showcases the achievements of Belair's thoroughbred horses over a 200-year racing tradition, explains the property's agricultural use and contains the restored 1923 residence of the stable manager. Belair Stable was built by William Woodward in 1907 and was part of the famous Belair Stud Stable from the 1920s through the 1950s. With Gallant Fox from 1930 and Omaha from 1935, Belair is also associated with the only father-and-son horses to win the Triple Crown in thoroughbred racing.

Railway history can be explored further at the Bowie Railroad Museum. Bowie Tower houses the Martin O’Rourke Railroad Research Library of the National Railroad Historical Society. The museum offers self-guided tours on Saturdays and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.; the station is accessible to people with disabilities. Bowie Station was opened in 1872 by the Baltimore and Potomac Railroad, which was later incorporated into the Pennsylvania Railroad System.

Trails, Exercise and Activities Together

Various types of trails are available for walks and bike rides. The WB&A Railroad Trail is 5.6 miles long, runs along the site of the former Washington, Baltimore, & Annapolis Railroad and extends from the area around Glenn Dale in the county to east of Bowie State University. The trail is flat and accessible. Whitemarsh Park has about 1.5 miles of improved trails accessible to wheelchairs and bicycles, as well as several miles of unimproved trails suitable for mountain biking. By contrast, the 7,335-foot-long paved Whitemarsh Park Trail features moderately to steeply sloping terrain. This allows you to choose between flatter and more challenging options depending on the type of route you prefer.

Quieter or weather-independent experiences are also part of the offerings. Bowie Playhouse is an ADA-accessible community theater with 150 seats at 16500 White Marsh Park Drive. Independent production companies stage various plays there throughout the year. Bowie Golf Course offers an 18-hole golf course at 7420 Laurel Bowie Road (MD 197) and has been owned by the City of Bowie since 1981.

Family Ideas and Seasonal Events

The Old Town Bowie Welcome Center offers local visitor information, hands-on activities for children and exhibitions about the history of Old Bowie as a closely connected railway community. Kids Kaboose for children ages 5 to 10 and the annual Trainspotting Day held in November also take place there. For further cultural interests, the National Capital Radio & Television Museum is available. It presents the history of radio and television from the 1920s to the present day and collects, preserves and interprets artifacts, programs and publications relating to the development and impact of electronic media.

The Bowie Ice Arena is open for ice skating every year from July through April and offers opportunities for people of all ages and skill levels. Outdoor concerts take place at Allen Pond Park in summer. Bowiefest is held on the first Saturday in June. Those who would like to discover regional products and handmade goods can visit the Bowie Farmers Market on Sundays from 8 a.m. to noon from late May through late October. Offerings include locally grown fruit and vegetables, cut flowers, plants, artisan breads, baked goods, meat, freshly brewed coffee and various handmade goods.

Choose the Right Holiday Apartment for Your Travel Plans

When searching for a holiday apartment in Bowie, it is worth first deciding on the rhythm you want for your trip. For culture-focused days, the mansion, stable museum, railway museum, theater and media museum are the main attractions. Those who prefer exercise can consider the flat WB&A Railroad Trail, the trails in Whitemarsh Park or the sloping Whitemarsh Park Trail. Families can also include seasonal events such as Kids Kaboose, Trainspotting Day, Bowiefest, outdoor concerts or the farmers market in their travel plans. Choosing accommodation that matches your personal itinerary makes it easier to arrange varied days without every day of the trip having to look the same.

If you would like to compare other places in the same area, here are the nearest destinations: Brandywine, Largo, Capitol Heights, Landover Hills, Lanham-Seabrook, Greenbelt, College Park and Fort Washington.

To the broader travel overview: Prince George's.