Laurel Historical Society

10/09/2026

The Laurel Historical Society will be at the 5th Annual Laurel Pride Celebration at Granville Gude Park on October 10!

Drop by to see us and share what having a local pride day means to you while enjoying a day full of music, dancing, vendors, food and amazing performances.

Did you know? The Laurel Pride Celebration takes place in October during LGBTQ+ History Month to extend the celebration beyond Pride Month in June and reinforce that recognition and inclusion should be year round.

10/08/2026

It's hard to believe that Heritage on Tap is just around the corner! Thank you to our generous corporate sponsors for supporting this new event. We are delighted to have two of Laurel's legacy businesses as Barrel Sponsors, Fred Frederick Laurel and H.J. Poist Gas Company, who have served Laurel for 67 and 89 years, respectively. And we're also thrilled to welcome Freestate Electric Companies as a new Stein Sponsor. We look forward to toasting Laurel's rich history with you all on October 17th!

Get your tickets here: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/heritage-on-tap-a-laurel-oktoberfest

10/06/2026

How much do you know about how Laurel has celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month?

The City of Laurel held its first official Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration on October 19, 2024. This free, bilingual event honored the histories, cultures, and contributions of the Hispanic and Latino communities in Laurel through music, art, dance, and conversation. The celebration marked an important step in recognizing the cultural, culinary, and artistic contributions of a community that makes up more than 20% of the population of Laurel.

Interested in learning more about how Hispanic Heritage Month relates to celebrating independence? Stop by the Laurel Museum to explore our current exhibition "Beyond the 4th: Stories of Laurel's Freedom Celebrations" Friday - Sunday from 12:00 PM - 4:00 PM.

10/01/2026

Heritage on Tap: A Laurel Oktoberfest is this month on October 17! This festive fall event will feature local craft beers, Oktoberfest-inspired fare, German wines, casino games, friendly competitions, and more all while raising critical funds to support LHS’s mission to preserve Laurel’s past for the future.

Date: Saturday, October 17 | 4 to 8 PM
Where: Laurel-Beltsville Senior Activity Center (7120 Contee Road, Laurel, MD 20707)
Tickets: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/heritage-on-tap-a-laurel-oktoberfest

Please note that there will be no day-of ticket sales.
All guests must be 21+ years of age.

For more information, visit our website: https://www.laurelhistoricalsociety.org/heritage-on-tap.html

Raise a glass to Laurel’s past at “Heritage on Tap: A Laurel Oktoberfest.” Enjoy locally crafted brews 🍺, festive Oktoberfest foods, music, conversation,…

09/29/2026

Thank you so much to everyone who joined LHS in celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month at our Children's Day event last Saturday! We had a fantastic time crafting, dancing, and learning with everyone.

If you missed the event and are interested in learning more about the history of Hispanic Heritage Month in Laurel, drop by the Laurel Museum to view our current exhibition Beyond the 4th: Stories of Laurel's Freedom Celebrations.

Images: Visitors learn to folklórico dance.
Local author Raul Cisneros reads his bilingual children's book The Woodpecker's Headache to an audience.
Visitors craft Mexican tissue paper flowers, play lotería, and color.

09/25/2026

Join us tomorrow, September 26th from 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM for our FREE Children's Day celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month! Stop by to explore Hispanic heritage through games, food, and dancing. Make sure to drop by before 2:00 PM, as LHS will also be hosting local author Raul Cisneros for a reading of his bilingual children's books.

Date: Saturday, September 26 from 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Location: Laurel Museum (817 Main Street, Laurel, MD 20707)
Cost: Free

Visitors of all ages are invited to join in to craft colorful flowers, play fun games, taste traditional foods, and learn about folklórico dancing. Folklórico skirts and other clothing will be available to try on for photos, and dancing is encouraged!

09/22/2026

On Saturday, September 26th, our Main Street Walking Tours return! This time we will be exploring the other half of Laurel's historic district with a focus on the Civil War, commercial growth, and people who inhabited Laurel. The tour will last approximately 1.5 hours and covers approximately 1 mile.

Date: September 26 | 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM
Tickets: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/main-street-walking-tour-part-two

This guided walking tour will begin at Laurel’s historic Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Station (now MARC) and follow down Main Street, featuring the site of a Civil War encampment, the Citizens National Bank Building, and the location of the Avondale Mill before it burned down in 1991. This tour will examine the evolution of the town as a commercial district in the 19th century through discussion of historic structures that housed businesses and families, and how fires shaped Laurel.

Image: Avondale Mill (also known as Crabbs Flour Mill) photographed by Bert Sadler in 1907. Sadler Collection, Laurel Historical Society.

09/17/2026

Our Speaker Series returns next Thursday, September 24 with a special hybrid presentation by Kevin Leonard of the Laurel History Boys on Laurel's Centennial Celebration!

Thursday, September 24 | 6:00 to 7:00 PM
Cost: FREE (advanced registration required)
Location: Laurel Pool Room and Zoom (hybrid event)
Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/speaker-series-laurels-1970-centennial-celebration-tickets-1997019692659?aff=ebdssbdestsearch

In an extraordinary display of community involvement, Laurel’s Centennial Celebration in 1970 spanned eight days, was managed by a Who’s Who of the Laurel business community, staged events in every corner of the city, raised tens of thousands of dollars from local businesses who lined up to sign checks and be sponsors, and, most impressively, produced a massive stage play about Laurel’s history that included a cast of almost 400 residents.

Image: Laurel Centennial Parade, Circa 1970. The passing float reads "Laurel Shopping Center Salutes Laurel Centennial". Laurel Historical Society Collection.

09/15/2026

Today is the start of National Hispanic Heritage Month! Hispanic Heritage month runs from September 15 - October 15 and recognizes the rich histories and contributions of America's Hispanic and Latino communities.

In celebration, the Laurel Historical Society invites you to join us at the Laurel Museum on Saturday, September 26 for a special Children's Day exploring Hispanic heritage through games, food, and dancing!

Visitors of all ages are invited to join in to craft colorful flowers, play fun games, taste traditional foods, and learn about folklórico dancing. Folklórico skirts and other clothing will be available to try on for photos, and dancing is encouraged! Make sure to drop by before 2:00 PM, as LHS will also be hosting local author Raul Cisneros for a reading of his bilingual children's books.

We hope to see you there!