Exhibits at the Laurel Museum

Each year the Laurel Museum debuts a new exhibit on a different topic related to Laurel's history.

Each exhibit is developed from March-January and a new exhibit opens February of each year.

See below for our 3 most recent exhibits. For more information on Past Exhibits, visit the Past Exhibits Page.

2018 Exhibit
We The People: How Civic Engagement Has Shaped Laurel

The Laurel Museum’s newest exhibit is a both celebration of Laurel citizens’ community involvement and also a call to action. We the People: How Civic Engagement Has Shaped Laurel opens at the Laurel Museum on February 4, 2018.  From saving the Laurel railroad station, to the fight for integration of schools, to defeating the proposed Redskin Stadium, the timely exhibit demonstrates how engaged average citizens have shaped and continue to shape the story of our town.

Visitors to exhibit will be asked, “When something is deeply important to you, what can you do to bring about change in your community?” Each section of the exhibit describes an issue of importance to the community. Visitors obtain a window into how people who felt strongly about it participated in civic engagement to create change. Visitors learn what tools were used, and how they affected the final outcome. The exhibit lays out different points of view on each topic and visitors are challenged to think analytically about the topic and consider how THEY would respond. Visitors will also learn about the ongoing work in the community and how to personally get involved.

2017 Exhibit
Laurel's WW1:
From Here to Over There

Drawing back the curtain on long-forgotten Laurel soldiers, men stationed at Camp Laurel, Red Cross knitting sessions, and dances at the former cotton mill "Laurel’s WW1: From Here to Over There" opened Sunday, February 5, 2017.

Focusing on individuals, the exhibit explores the impact of this cataclysmic world event on Laurel and its citizens. More than 230 soldiers with ties to Laurel, including at least two women, have been identified as participating in the war. 116,000 Americans died during WWI, including seven from the Laurel area. Artifacts, including WW1 posters, a uniform, minutes from the City of Laurel, trench art, and more are on display throughout the exhibit.

2016 Exhibit
Behind the Bricks:
20 Years of the Laurel Museum

Where do exhibit ideas come from? How is an exhibit developed? What new historical discoveries can research uncover?

Looking back at topics from the Mill House to Mill Workers, from Civil War soldiers, WWII, the 1950’s and Lost Laurel, Behind the Bricks: 20 Years of the Laurel Museum, which opened February 7th at the Laurel Museum answered these questions.

The behind the scenes look explored the discoveries, collections, volunteers and staff that inspired and created more than 20 exhibits since the Laurel Museum’s brick home opened to the public in May 1996.