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Bowie is a city of about 58,000 people in Prince George's County, Maryland, between Washington, D.C., and Annapolis. It began as a small railroad town in the 1870s, now known as Old Town Bowie, and grew rapidly from the 1960s when Levitt and Sons built a large planned suburb on the grounds of the historic Belair estate.
Belair Mansion, a Georgian house built around 1745 for colonial governor Samuel Ogle, is the city's signature landmark. Later the estate became the home of the Belair Stud, a famous thoroughbred stable that produced Triple Crown winners Gallant Fox and Omaha, whose story is told at the nearby Belair Stable Museum.
Bowie also has an unusual cluster of small museums, including the Radio and Television Museum and a railroad museum by the tracks in Old Town Bowie. Families enjoy Allen Pond Park and summer baseball with the Bowie Baysox at Prince George's Stadium, while Bowie Town Center offers shopping and dining.
A Georgian brick mansion built around 1745 for Samuel Ogle, a provincial governor of Maryland, and later home of the Woodward family of horse racing fame. Restored by the City of Bowie, it displays period rooms, portraits and decorative arts, and tours tell the stories of its owners and enslaved workers. Free admission.
The historic stable of the Belair Stud, one of America's great thoroughbred farms, which produced Triple Crown winners Gallant Fox in 1930 and his son Omaha in 1935. Exhibits of trophies, silks and photos tell the story of the horses and the people who cared for them. It is a short drive from Belair Mansion.
A volunteer-run museum in a historic farmhouse in Bowie, displaying hundreds of radios, televisions, phonographs and broadcasting equipment from the early 1900s onward. Exhibits show how home entertainment changed over the century, and some sets still work. Opening hours are limited, mostly on weekends, so check ahead.
A small museum beside the busy Northeast Corridor tracks in Old Town Bowie, with a historic railroad station, an interlocking signal tower and a caboose. Visitors can learn about the junction that created the town and watch Amtrak and MARC trains pass by. It is a fun short stop for train fans of all ages.
Bowie's main city park, with a pond for fishing and paddle boats, walking paths, sports fields, playgrounds and an outdoor amphitheater that hosts summer concerts and events. The park is busy on warm weekends, especially during community festivals. Bring a picnic and walk the loop around the pond.
The home ballpark of the Bowie Baysox, the Double-A affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles, where fans can watch future major leaguers in a relaxed, family-friendly setting. Many games feature fireworks, giveaways and kids' activities. Tickets are affordable, and lawn and box seats give good views of the field.
The original railroad village of Bowie, known as Huntington when it was founded in the 1870s, with older homes, small shops, antique stores and restaurants along the tracks. The railroad museum is here, and train watching is part of the charm. It is a pleasant place for a short stroll and a meal.
An open-air shopping center near US 50 with department stores, national retailers and restaurants arranged along pedestrian streets. It is the area's main shopping destination and a convenient place to eat between visits to Bowie's museums. Parking is free, and evenings bring families and diners.
A small theater in White Marsh Park operated by the City of Bowie, where local theater companies stage plays, musicals and family productions throughout the year. Tickets are inexpensive, and the intimate house gives every seat a close view of the stage. Check the city's arts calendar for current shows.
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