The Belvidere - Claremore, OK - U.S. National Register of Historic Places on Waymarking.com

Construction on this beautiful home, the Belvidere (which is a French word meaning a beautiful view, or beautiful to see), was begun in 1902 and completed in 1907. Unfortunately, the owner John Bayless (1851-1907) did not live to see its completion, dying of appendicitis just before its completion. Mrs. Bayless and her seven children moved into the home and lived there until 1919. A later owner, the Bell family converted the home to twelve individual apartments in the 1930's. By the late 1980's the home had fallen into disrepair, and in 1991, the Rogers County Historical Society obtained the home and have restored it to its present condition.

This is a three-story home in the Victorian Gothic style. It was placed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1982. The house has four turrets made of red brick. The front turrets are round with conical roofs, while the rear turrets are square with pyramidal roofs. The house itself has yellow brick, and a hipped roof with projecting eaves. At the front, there are covered porches on the first and second levels, supported each by four Doric columns. On the northeast side is a covered carriage porch, which at one time had a circular drive was guests and visitors.

Single doors on the first and second levels each have sidelights with stained glass panels above, and a transom. Windows throughout are single one-over-one, with three windows with stone lintels on each level of the turrets. With a total of 9,000 square feet, originally the home had two parlors, a kitchen, dining and two bathrooms on the first level; five bedrooms and two baths on the second level; and a large ballroom on the third, where parties and entertainment took place. Today, the ground floor has a tea room, gift shop, foyer, bathroom and kitchen. The second floor has three authentically furnished bedrooms, a bath and office, and the third floor ballroom is used to cater weddings and other events.

The interior contains the original lavish features which include one inch inlaid tile (laid by imported Italian artisans), pressed tin ceilings and walls, with marble wainscoting, and beautiful wood parquet flooring. Through the center of the house, from the ground floor to the third, is an open atrium which assisted in keeping the home heated and cooled as air circulated through all three floors. When opened, the innovative skylight of the 3,000 square foot, third-story ballroom, allowed fresh air to circulate through the home on hot summer nights. In winter, the bedrooms on the second floor were heated with the central atrium acting as a chimney to draw heat from gas fireplaces on the main floor. On the floor porch is a large one-inch tiled panel showing the name "Belvidere".

Hours of Operation: Tues-Sat: 10:00 - 3:00 (Tea Room 11:00-2:00)

This home is beautiful and well worth a visit. The photo gallery shows some views of the interior that are breath-taking.

Street address: 121 N. Chickasaw Avenue Claremore, OK USA 74017 County / Borough / Parish: Rogers County Year listed: 1982 Historic (Areas of) Significance: Architecture Periods of significance: 1900-1924 Historic function: Dwelling Current function: Museum/Tea Room Privately owned?: no Hours of operation: From: 10:00 AM To: 3:00 PM Primary Web Site: [Web Link] Secondary Website 1: [Web Link] Season start / Season finish: Not listed Secondary Website 2: Not listed National Historic Landmark Link: Not listed

Visit Instructions:
Please give the date and brief account of your visit. Include any additional observations or information that you may have, particularly about the current condition of the site. Additional photos are highly encouraged, but not mandatory.

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