Laurel Museum's 15th: We Should All Celebrate

While many Laurel folks will be focusing on the Main Street festival this weekend, my attention is focused on the following Sunday: May 15. when The Laurel Museum is celebrating its 15th Anniversary.

I'm always a little disappointed when I run into someone, like I did the other night at Salute on Main Street, who not only had never visited the Laurel Museum (817 Main Street), but didn't even know Laurel had a museum. Maybe you're one of those folks. Or maybe you've been meaning to visit and just haven't. And are you missing a real gem -- which has outdoor river walks right next to it. What a deal. And it's free.

Granted the Museum is only open 3 days a week (hey, volunteer to docent: more volunteers, more open hours). but Laurel's local community museum has been a remarkable plus for Laurel. More than 15 exhibits, school tours, special programming just for kids for kids, interesting speakers for adults. Lots of new insights into all parts of the town's history from them mill, to the 1950s, to WWII. I didn't grow up in Laurel, but find its transitions from mill town to early suburb to today's very diverse community that's been touched by some very major historical events (think Civil War, Civil Rights, 9/11 to name just a few), very interesting.

Many community museums create one exhibit, and remain largely static for years and years. In Laurel you see something new every year. That's really remarkable, and is a direct result of some very wise decisions made before I became involved. (full disclosure: I'm a Board member and past president). For me, the Laurel Museum has not only given an opportunity to meet some truly dedicated, smart, interesting people, but a chance to do original historical research, actually open a museum, see it grow, and see the fruits of my (and others) labors become real museum exhibitions. How cool is that?

Right now, the exhibit is focusing on the fact that the Laurel Race Track is celebrating it's 100th Anniversary. And They're Off! 100 Years of Laurel Race Track 1911-2011. Not only are there famous race horses and celebrities, but a kind of behind the scenes look at the Race Course and the impact it's had on Laurel for the past 100 years. Whether you like to go to the track or not -- the track has been a part of this community for a long time. Will it be in the future? Who knows?

The Laurel Museum's community celebration: 15 on the 15th runs from 1:30-3:30. www.laurelhistoricalsociety.org is free, very family friendly, and includes horse related games to tie into the current exhibit. So I hope you'll drop by Sunday the 15th (free, and there will even be refreshments).
I think you'll be glad you did -- and pleasantly surprised if you haven't visited before.

Me, I'll be there having fun, but also thanking many people who were there at the beginning, and still are, like Betty Compton, and the City of Laurel. As you'll sometimes see in future posts, I don't always agree with what's happening in the City, but with regards to the Laurel Museum, they've been spot-on and a great partner. May 15 I'll also be thinking of some LHS friends who aren't with us any more like Jane Cole, the Museum's original Co-Director, Louise Eldridge, Clare Bergeron and others. I miss them, and think they'd be pretty pleased with where we've come and what we've done.