Purchase Tickets
Since 1956, guests have begun their tours of the Bellingrath Home in a small room which Mrs. Bellingrath termed her Day Parlor. The guide book to the Home termed it a “Date Parlor” although in the description of the room makes no mention of dates. Instead, Mrs. Moore wrote:
Mrs. Bellingrath used this room frequently when friends she met in the Gardens came in for a short chat, or when she had a business engagement and guests were gathered in the main part of the house.
A photograph of the Day Parlor taken in the late 1930’s shows that the furnishings while recognizable, are no longer in the room. The only objects still here are the pair of table lamps and the chandelier. The sofa which has always been in this room is out of view in the photograph.
Over the years the porcelain, artwork and furnishings were moved to other parts of the Home. A desk, formerly in the First Guest Room was moved here to replace a center table. Paul Morphy’s Chess Table sat in the middle of the room for many years where guests in the 1960’s were photographed holding the chess pieces. It was later moved to Mr. Bellingrath’s bedroom.
The room was redecorated by Wade Lott in 1978 with new draperies and upholstery. The wooden venetian blinds needed to be replaced, but in the late 1970’s there were none being made. Plastic mini-blinds were installed. In 2004 the carpet was replaced and the furniture reupholstered again. Wooden venetian blinds like those in the earlier view were installed.
They say that first impressions are the most important. So in 2025 the well-worn carpet was replaced with a new area rug. Its pale green color compliments the upholstery in the room and its texture was selected for an area of high traffic. The painting over the mantel of Belle Camp makes this room ideal for telling the history of this unique estate to our visitors.