Browse The Estate

The Entrance Building provides guests with admission tickets, tour information, restrooms and wheelchair/stroller rentals, as well as historical memorabilia about the Bellingraths, the Museum Home and the Gardens.

The Magnolia Café is open for lunch from 11 am to 2 pm with a limited rotating menu. Sandwiches, salads, and a hot meal are available each day, 7 days a week.

Bellingrath Gift Shop offers a variety of gifts and souvenirs representing the beauty of the Gardens, including jewelry, hats, scarves, purses, gardening tools and accessories, porcelain treasures, stationery, candles and household decor. Open 8 am to 5 pm daily.

The Bellingrath Rose Garden was constructed in 1936 in the shape of the Rotary Club emblem. Mr. Bellingrath was a founding member of the Rotary Club of Mobile, which began in 1914. He had the garden planted as a tribute to the Rotary’s ideals in the shape of the lapel pin he always wore. The Rose Garden contains more than 2,000 plants representing 36 varieties.

The Conservatory was built in 1935 to house tropical flowers and plants. A coal-fired boiler once occupied the small brick building behind it to provide necessary heat each winter. The Conservatory was restored in 1996.

In the mid-1960s, the former Bird Sanctuary in the Gardens was transformed into the Asian-American Garden. This garden features elements found in both Chinese and Japanese gardens. (Only the entry portions to this Garden are accessible to wheelchairs/strollers.)

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The Rockery is a rock garden that was built into a washed-out hillside on Mirror Lake. It was the creation of Mrs. Bellingrath, who personally supervised the installation of its winding stairs, waterfall and pools. The sandstone rocks used for the walls were quarried from the Cottage Hill area of Mobile. The flagstone steps came from downtown Mobile.

The Camellia Parterre begins the formal gardens inspired by the Bellingrath’s trip to Europe in 1927. Camellias were Walter Bellingrath’s favorite flower and both Mr. & Mrs. Bellingrath have camellias named for them. Our camellias typically bloom from late November through early March.

The Great Lawn was formerly a farm that adjoined the original fishing camp and is a central feature of the Gardens, reminiscent of the pastoral English landscapes. It is planted with seasonal grasses to remain a luxurious green year-round. The flowerbeds bordering the lawn are 400 feet long and require an average of 4,000 plants of varying sizes to replant each season. The Great Lawn is host to many Bellingrath events each year. Below are some of the activities enjoyed on the Lawn.

Inside Live Oak Plaza, the Mermaid Fountain sits in a tranquil pool against a gorgeous floral backdrop. The terra cotta fountain was purchased by Mrs. Bellingrath from an old New Orleans garden.

Live Oak Plaza is located at the center of the Gardens. Its features include a series of fountains and runnels which once carried the overflow of an artesian spring down to Fowl River. Many special events are held on Live Oak Plaza, including Boo at Bellingrath, the Easter Sunrise Service and Kids Gulf Discovery Day.

The Grotto is a system of runnels and fountains overlooking the Fowl River and was completed in 1931. The flagstones in the walkways were formerly part of downtown Mobile and were purchased by Mrs. Bellingrath.

The River Front Pavilion along the Fowl River replaced the original boathouse and deck that had been the center of summer activities for the Bellingraths and their guests. It offers an excellent view of the river as well as the stone Grotto. The steps lead back up to the South Terrace.

The Bellingrath Museum Home was built in 1935 as the Bellingraths’ permanent residence. The 15-room home was built using bricks dating to 1853 and ironwork from the 1870s salvaged from historic structures in Mobile. It is completely furnished with the antiques collected by Mrs. Bellingrath. The Home opened to the public in 1956. Guided tours are available daily. (Tickets may be purchased at the Home entrance or in the Entrance Building. The Home is not accessible to wheelchairs/strollers).

The South Terrace replaced Mr. Bellingrath’s fishing lodge in the early 1960s. Today it is used for everything from weddings to Christmas concerts.

The East Terrace offers excellent river views as well as a patio with chairs and a fish pond.

The North Terrace is a series of terraces with more views of Fowl River. It was a favorite spot for tea for Mrs. Bellingrath.

The Delchamps Gallery of Boehm Porcelain (pronounced “beam”) was originally designed in 1939 as an open six-car garage with guest quarters above. The gallery was created in 1967 to house a collection of Boehm porcelain given to the Gardens from Mobile’s Delchamps family and represents the largest public display of the works of the American sculptor, Edward Marshall Boehm.

During the Bellingraths’ time in the 1930s and 1940s, the roads from Mobile to their Fowl River home were not paved, making traveling to and from Sunday service a huge undertaking. The Chapel was built in 1939, for religious services for the Bellingraths and their guests. After Mr. Bellingrath passed in 1955, the space was closed; during the 1960s and 70s, it was used as a makeshift warehouse. When the Mobile Coca-Cola bottling plant was sold in 1981, it was suggested that the buyers donate something back to the Gardens. The result was a complete refurbishment of the Chapel, with the installation of pews and a communion table at the front. The metal casement windows were replaced by leaded glass windows created by Mobile’s Bell Stained Glass. Each window features a different flower found in the Gardens. Today, the Chapel is often used for intimate wedding ceremonies.

Mirror Lake was once a runoff pond for a 19th century sawmill on the property. The Bellingraths had it dredged and built the Mirror Lake Dam to create a tranquil lake to reflect their azaleas and other flowers. Across the lake is the Summer House, offering quiet shelter to visitors. The Lion Overlook is centered with a life-size feline created in the mid-19th century as a garden ornament for a home on Mobile’s Government Street. The Rustic Bridge offers a view of the surroundings. Along the Exit Path you will encounter the Mirror Lake Overlooks. The overlooks offer guests views back over the lake and offer excellent vantage points for photography.

The Lion Overlook is centered with a life-size feline created in the mid-19th century as a garden ornament for a home on Mobile’s Government Street.

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The open-air structure is supported by decorative wrought ironwork that provides a covered respite from the summer's heat. It is located by the Bayou Observatory.

The Dwight Harrigan ExxonMobil Bayou Boardwalk offers a winding trip across an authentic southern bayou allowing guests a close-up view of fish, turtles, waterfowl and other wildlife, as well as the natural vegetation needed to support this ecosystem. Interpretive panels along the boardwalk give visitors additional information about the ecology, history, animals and plants of the Fowl River watershed. The bayou offers a startling contrast to the orderliness of the Gardens. Guests may also overlook the view of the bayou from the Bayou Observatory.