The Overdue Recognition Art Gallery showcases African American art. Works range from originals to local artists' creations and fine art reproductions. The gallery also provides custom framing and conservation services.
One of the oldest landmarks in the town and dating back to 1745, the Belair Mansion was bought by the City of Bowie for just one dollar in 1964 and served as its City Hall until 1978. Now classified as a museum, Belair Mansion offers tours of the grounds five days a week.
The Mansion is also available to rent for your special occasions. With reasonable pricing and a central location it is the perfect place to celebrate a wedding, graduation or hold a business function. Don't forget to swing by the stables while you're there to see where numerous prize winning horses, including the triple crown winner Gallant Fox, were raised for over 250 years.
The Bowie Center for the Performing Arts (BCPA) is a community arts venue, located in Bowie. The BCPA is an instructional facility for the performing arts, hosting a wide range of activities and events, including theater, music, dance, lectures, films, workshops, concerts and creative arts therapy. The space has a policy of non-discrimination, being "open for appropriate use by all persons, regardless of race, color, disability, religion, gender, sexual orientation, or national origin."
The Bowie Center is publicly funded and operated. A full list of rental fees and upcoming events are available on the BCPA website. For further inquiries, phone the Bowie Center for the Performing Arts.
The Charis Center for the Arts is a non-profit organization that offers students ages 4 to 18 classes in the performing and visual arts. Subjects include theater, music, dance, drawing, painting and more. Full-day summer programs and after-school programs are also available.
A trip to Bowie would not be complete without a visit to where it all began. After the Civil War, Oden Bowie masterminded the development of two major railroads traveling to D.C. and Southern Maryland. Bowie Station served as the junction between the two lines. The station's central location quickly grew popular and thus a city was formed around it. While the railroad is still in use, the station has not been since 1989. The station buildings were declared a musuem in 1994 and are now available for touring. You can walk through the passenger depot, hang out in the tower (which still features the authentic equipment used to direct trains) or tour an authentic caboose donated to the museum.