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Bellingrath Gardens & Home: A Southern Masterpiece

Experience Southern charm at Bellingrath Gardens & Home: a historic estate with stunning gardens, a museum home, and seasonal events.

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Bellingrath Gardens & Home, located in Theodore, Alabama, is a 65-acre estate featuring stunning gardens and a historic home [3]. Once a simple fishing camp, it was transformed by Walter and Bessie Bellingrath into a world-renowned attraction, opening to the public in 1932 [5, 9]. Visitors can explore themed gardens, tour the Bellingrath Home, and enjoy seasonal events [15].

A brief summary to Bellingrath Gardens & Home

  • Monday 8 am-5 pm
  • Tuesday 8 am-5 pm
  • Wednesday 8 am-5 pm
  • Thursday 8 am-5 pm
  • Friday 8 am-5 pm
  • Saturday 8 am-5 pm
  • Sunday 8 am-5 pm

Local tips

  • Visit during different seasons to witness the unique blooms and events, from the spring azaleas to the Christmas lights [15].
  • Wear comfortable shoes, as you'll be doing a lot of walking to explore the 65-acre gardens [15].
  • Check the Bellingrath Gardens website for special events and seasonal discounts before planning your visit [15].
  • Allow at least 2-3 hours to fully explore both the gardens and the Bellingrath Home [15].
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Getting There

  • Driving

    From downtown Mobile, take I-10 West to exit 15A for US-90 W toward Theodore [2, 15]. Follow US-90 W for approximately 2.8 miles, then turn left onto Bellingrath Road (County Hwy 59) [2, 15]. Continue for 8 miles and turn left onto Rebel Road (County Hwy 18), which becomes Bellingrath Gardens Road [2, 15]. Follow the signs to the gardens [2, 15]. Parking is free on-site [1, 15].

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Discover more about Bellingrath Gardens & Home

Bellingrath Gardens & Home offers a blend of natural beauty and history on the Gulf Coast [15]. What began as a humble fishing camp in 1917 evolved into a grand public garden, thanks to the vision of Walter and Bessie Bellingrath [2, 5, 11]. Walter, a Coca-Cola bottling magnate, and Bessie, with her love for gardens, created this enchanting escape [5, 13]. The gardens officially opened to the public in 1932, showcasing a variety of flowers and plants influenced by the Bellingraths' travels to Europe [2, 5]. The Bellingrath Home, a 10,500-square-foot mansion, was completed in 1935 and designed in an English Renaissance style [5, 13]. The home features handmade brick salvaged from the birthplace of Alva Smith Vanderbilt Belmont and ironwork from Mobile's Southern Hotel [5]. Today, visitors can explore the themed gardens, including the Asian Garden (with partial wheelchair access), the Bellingrath Museum Home, and a bayou boardwalk [3, 6]. A cell phone audio tour provides interpretation of stops within the gardens [2]. Seasonal events, such as Magic Christmas in Lights, the Great Bellingrath Harvest, and Beers & Blooms, add to the experience [4, 16, 17, 18]. The Magnolia Café offers refreshments, and the gift shop provides shopping opportunities [3, 6]. Bellingrath Gardens & Home is operated by the Bellingrath Morse Foundation, ensuring that profits benefit local churches and colleges [5, 6].

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