• Home
  • About Us
    • Mission, Vision, Values
    • Contact Us
    • Background
    • LHS In the News
    • Blog
    • Jobs and Internships
  • Plan a Visit
    • Directions and Hours
    • Brennan Research Library
    • Education
  • Exhibits/Events
    • Calendar of Events
    • Past Events
    • Special Events >
      • Gala
      • 1994 Walking Tour Revisited
      • Holiday Home Tour
      • Laurel Garden Tour
    • Exhibits
    • Past Exhibits >
      • Awkward Family Photos
      • Visions and Voices
      • It's All Laurel
    • Online Exhibits >
      • Women's Suffrage Online Exhibit
      • Horace Capron: 200 Years
  • Get Involved
    • Volunteer
    • Donations
    • Join or Renew
    • Annual Appeal
    • Donate to Our Collection
    • Brick Program
  • History/Research
    • History of Laurel
    • Collections
  • Laurel Museum Shop
  LAUREL HISTORICAL SOCIETY

Laurel Historical Society Mission, Vision, Values

Introduction
Founded on the banks of the Patuxent River in the 19th century, Laurel, Maryland, was Prince George’s County’s only factory town.  Laurel today includes a historic district with several original mill worker’s homes, a Main Street with historic shops, and many period houses. In recent decades, exponential suburban growth has brought increasingly diverse residents, new neighborhoods, and commercial ventures to Laurel. Parts of four counties - Prince George’s, Anne Arundel, Montgomery, and Howard - comprise the Laurel area. Today, Laurel’s residents come from many different backgrounds.
The Laurel Historical Society is housed in a c.1840s mill worker’s house. Whether you have deep roots or moved to Laurel more recently, we work to preserve your heritage and to give space to all stories through engaging educational programs, exhibits, and other activities. We welcome and serve all members of the greater Laurel community.

Mission
To deepen the understanding of the past and cultural heritage of Laurel, Maryland to connect and inspire, for today and the future.
We fulfill our mission by:
  • Collecting, preserving, interpreting, and researching the historical records and artifacts that document the history and culture of our community.
  • Providing access to our collections online, in our library, and through outreach programs.
  • Enhancing collections and public programs to better represent present-day and past life as well as the diverse communities in the Laurel area.
  • Creating exhibits on the history, current activities, and cultural heritage of the Laurel area.
  • Conducting lectures, discussions, and other public programs for adults, children, students, and families.
  • Connecting with the community and stakeholders to broaden partnerships and collaborations on collections, exhibits, programs, and other learning opportunities.

Vision
Creating a community that encourages learning about all of our neighbors by collecting, storytelling, cultivating legacies, and sharing history and cultural heritage.

Values Introductory Statement: We consider our greatest strength to be both a past and future facing organization, serving the community in ways to engage with more diverse audiences. We carry the lessons learned from past and current events to inspire us to be active stewards of our community’s history as it happens, while encouraging and exploring different perspectives from across the Laurel community. We are welcoming, inclusive, and respectful of all.

Community    We believe we have an obligation to promote collaboration, engage in dialogue and encourage participation in our work so we can learn from one another. We conduct our work with cooperation and mutual respect within the Society and within the Laurel community.
Inclusion        We recognize the diversity of our community and aspire to reflect the full spectrum of our community in our collections, programs, staff, and governance. We believe that our past should inform our future, and that bringing together diverse groups of people can create new approaches to cultural understanding. We are committed to telling accurate and inclusive stories about Laurel.
Learning         We pride ourselves on being a place for our visitors, staff, and volunteers to learn. We value our role as a resource for life-long learning in our community.        
Preservation  We care for the resources that have been entrusted to us for today and for future generations.

Laurel Historical Society Strategic Plan 2023 - 2026

Picture

Home
About us
Plan a visit
Events/programs/exhibits
get involved
history

Collections
SHOP

Site Map

Constellation Community Champion
  • TripAdvisor
Laurel Historical Society
817 Main Street
Laurel, MD  20707
301-725-7975
[email protected]

Laurel Museum Hours:
Friday - Sunday 12-4 pm
Research and Tour groups by appointment.
© COPYRIGHT 2015-2023. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Mission, Vision, Values
    • Contact Us
    • Background
    • LHS In the News
    • Blog
    • Jobs and Internships
  • Plan a Visit
    • Directions and Hours
    • Brennan Research Library
    • Education
  • Exhibits/Events
    • Calendar of Events
    • Past Events
    • Special Events >
      • Gala
      • 1994 Walking Tour Revisited
      • Holiday Home Tour
      • Laurel Garden Tour
    • Exhibits
    • Past Exhibits >
      • Awkward Family Photos
      • Visions and Voices
      • It's All Laurel
    • Online Exhibits >
      • Women's Suffrage Online Exhibit
      • Horace Capron: 200 Years
  • Get Involved
    • Volunteer
    • Donations
    • Join or Renew
    • Annual Appeal
    • Donate to Our Collection
    • Brick Program
  • History/Research
    • History of Laurel
    • Collections
  • Laurel Museum Shop