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The Laurel Historical Society:
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Early Years.
The Laurel Historical Society was organized in 1975 as the Laurel Horizon Society. Since then it has worked to preserve the cultural and historical heritage of greater Laurel. Since its inception, LHS has been dedicated to preserving our community's history and promoting a greater understanding of that past and the cultural heritage of the Laurel area. The organization was instrumental in many renovation and preservation projects, including the B&O Railroad stop and the Fairall Foundry.
Other early projects included placing the Avondale Mill, and the old Laurel High School (now the Laurel Boys and Girls Club) on the National Register of Historic Places, and developing the first walking tour of Old Town Laurel. Preservation efforts have continued to the present.
The Society’s May 1976 house tour began a tradition continues to this day.
A slide presentation about Laurel’s history evolved into the video, "Laurel: Historic Crossroads." Funded by a generous grant from the Citizens National Bank, (now PNC) the video won a national award from the American Association of Museums, and is available in the museum shop on DVD.
The 1980s-1996: In Pursuit of a Museum
From its founding the Society welcomed donations of material related to the history of Laurel. By the 1980s artifacts were accumulating with no place to store them. During this period the Society continued its efforts with oral histories, and preservation projects.
In 1989, the City of Laurel began exterior restoration of a mill workers’ house it owned just east of the former site of the Laurel Cotton Mill and adjacent to Riverfront Park.
On February 25, 1991, then-Mayor Joseph Robison and the Laurel City Council adopted a resolution authorizing the Laurel Historical Society to use the mill workers' house as the Laurel Museum. As plans were developed, funds raised and construction begun, traveling exhibits presented throughout the community kept citizens informed about the Museum’s progress.
1996-Present: The Laurel Museum and a Growing Society
The Laurel Historical Society opened the Laurel Museum as a small community museum and archives on Main Street in Laurel, Maryland, in 1996. We are a 501c3 non-profit organization located in Prince George’s County. Our mission is to promote and preserve the history and cultural heritage of Laurel, and we also serve as a cultural organization open to the public to access our exhibits, gallery space, research library, children's interactive area, and gift shop. Since opening its doors as the community's museum, LHS has produced a new exhibit each year, which runs from February to December, alongside several temporary exhibits throughout the year. We welcome more than 1,700 visitors per year to our 1,920-square-foot Laurel Museum, and maintain a free online collections database which allows for digital access to more than 5,000 items from our collection. Online visitors to our website and online catalog number more than 30,000. The Society strives to make its collections accessible through digital preservation of The Laurel Leader, local yearbooks, and other archival materials.
Throughout its history the Society has worked to ensure that the Laurel Museum and the Society’s collection are maintained to the highest professional standards. An interpretive plan and collections policies and procedures ensure that the artifacts entrusted to our care are preserved, recorded and remain accessible through exhibits and to researchers.
The previously all-volunteer staff now includes a paid full-time Executive Director, an Education and Outreach Coordinator, and a Museum Administrator.
Recent Society highlights include our exhibit It's All Laurel - City Limits & Beyond, which focuses on the various communities within Laurel, as well as a temporary exhibit on the historical African-American voting experience in Laurel. We are also eagerly awaiting the spring bloom to showcase plants native to our region on the property of the Laurel Museum.
The Society holds monthly programming tied into current exhibits and local history and culture and has increased its community partnerships. We also hold an online webinar series highlighting Laurel's history and culture, and our children’s programs are growing in popularity throughout the community while our membership continues to grow.
The Society continues its partnerships and outreach to the community through regular programming tied into current exhibits and local history and culture, as well as special events, including an annual fundraising gala, a community garden tour, children's days, and summer camps.
Since 2000 the Society has held an annual gala that raises critical funds to support the Society’s operations and the Laurel Museum.
The Laurel Historical Society was organized in 1975 as the Laurel Horizon Society. Since then it has worked to preserve the cultural and historical heritage of greater Laurel. Since its inception, LHS has been dedicated to preserving our community's history and promoting a greater understanding of that past and the cultural heritage of the Laurel area. The organization was instrumental in many renovation and preservation projects, including the B&O Railroad stop and the Fairall Foundry.
Other early projects included placing the Avondale Mill, and the old Laurel High School (now the Laurel Boys and Girls Club) on the National Register of Historic Places, and developing the first walking tour of Old Town Laurel. Preservation efforts have continued to the present.
The Society’s May 1976 house tour began a tradition continues to this day.
A slide presentation about Laurel’s history evolved into the video, "Laurel: Historic Crossroads." Funded by a generous grant from the Citizens National Bank, (now PNC) the video won a national award from the American Association of Museums, and is available in the museum shop on DVD.
The 1980s-1996: In Pursuit of a Museum
From its founding the Society welcomed donations of material related to the history of Laurel. By the 1980s artifacts were accumulating with no place to store them. During this period the Society continued its efforts with oral histories, and preservation projects.
In 1989, the City of Laurel began exterior restoration of a mill workers’ house it owned just east of the former site of the Laurel Cotton Mill and adjacent to Riverfront Park.
On February 25, 1991, then-Mayor Joseph Robison and the Laurel City Council adopted a resolution authorizing the Laurel Historical Society to use the mill workers' house as the Laurel Museum. As plans were developed, funds raised and construction begun, traveling exhibits presented throughout the community kept citizens informed about the Museum’s progress.
1996-Present: The Laurel Museum and a Growing Society
The Laurel Historical Society opened the Laurel Museum as a small community museum and archives on Main Street in Laurel, Maryland, in 1996. We are a 501c3 non-profit organization located in Prince George’s County. Our mission is to promote and preserve the history and cultural heritage of Laurel, and we also serve as a cultural organization open to the public to access our exhibits, gallery space, research library, children's interactive area, and gift shop. Since opening its doors as the community's museum, LHS has produced a new exhibit each year, which runs from February to December, alongside several temporary exhibits throughout the year. We welcome more than 1,700 visitors per year to our 1,920-square-foot Laurel Museum, and maintain a free online collections database which allows for digital access to more than 5,000 items from our collection. Online visitors to our website and online catalog number more than 30,000. The Society strives to make its collections accessible through digital preservation of The Laurel Leader, local yearbooks, and other archival materials.
Throughout its history the Society has worked to ensure that the Laurel Museum and the Society’s collection are maintained to the highest professional standards. An interpretive plan and collections policies and procedures ensure that the artifacts entrusted to our care are preserved, recorded and remain accessible through exhibits and to researchers.
The previously all-volunteer staff now includes a paid full-time Executive Director, an Education and Outreach Coordinator, and a Museum Administrator.
Recent Society highlights include our exhibit It's All Laurel - City Limits & Beyond, which focuses on the various communities within Laurel, as well as a temporary exhibit on the historical African-American voting experience in Laurel. We are also eagerly awaiting the spring bloom to showcase plants native to our region on the property of the Laurel Museum.
The Society holds monthly programming tied into current exhibits and local history and culture and has increased its community partnerships. We also hold an online webinar series highlighting Laurel's history and culture, and our children’s programs are growing in popularity throughout the community while our membership continues to grow.
The Society continues its partnerships and outreach to the community through regular programming tied into current exhibits and local history and culture, as well as special events, including an annual fundraising gala, a community garden tour, children's days, and summer camps.
Since 2000 the Society has held an annual gala that raises critical funds to support the Society’s operations and the Laurel Museum.
