Laurel Historical Society

03/31/2026

As part of our exhibition “Beyond the 4th: Stories of Laurel’s Freedom Celebrations”, we examine the roles women filled in helping celebrate freedom in the United States, even before they had freedoms of their own. Today, we are highlighting the only woman whose name is on the Declaration of Independence, Mary Katharine Goddard (June 16, 1738 – Aug. 12, 1816).

In 1777, the Second Continental Congress, meeting in Baltimore, called for a new printing of the Declaration of Independence. The job came to a Baltimore print shop operated by newspaper publisher Mary Katharine Goddard. This version of the Declaration of Independence would include the names of the document’s signers, unlike earlier versions, and was intended for wide public distribution.

Signing the Declaration of Independence was considered an act of treason by the British, and the punishment was death.

Goddard usually signed her printed documents and newspapers as “M.K. Goddard.” But in a show of solidarity with the signers, she added her own full name at the bottom of the document. This version of the Declaration of Independence is known as the Goddard Broadside.

Goddard, who helped run her family’s publishing business, was also Baltimore’s postmaster from 1775 to 1789. She likely was the nation’s only female employee when the country was born on July 4, 1776.

Image Credit: Library of Congress, Rare Book and Special Collections Division, Continental Congress & Constitutional Convention Broadsides Collection

03/30/2026

The Laurel Museum will be closed this Sunday, April 5th for Easter.

03/26/2026

We are coming up on our first walking tour of the year, the Main Street Walking Tour on April 11th! Grab your tickets now to secure your spot here: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/main-street-walking-tour

Join us as we explore the rich and diverse history of Laurel’s historic commercial district and uncover the interesting stories that surround some of Laurel’s favorite landmarks. This tour will last between 1 and 1.5 hours and covers approximately 1.25 miles.

This narrated and guided walking tour will trace Laurel’s early years from a Mill to a town and highlight some of Laurel’s most recognizable historic places, including Oliver’s Tavern, the First United Methodist Church, and the site of the Laurel Cotton Mill. This tour will also feature the Laurel Municipal Pool and includes a discussion on the site’s history of segregation and connection to the racial terror in the grove, a historic African American neighborhood, during the summer of 1967.

This project has been financed in part with State Funds from the Maryland Historical Trust, an agency of the Maryland Department of Planning which is an instrumentality of the State of Maryland. However, project contents or opinions do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the Maryland Historical Trust or the Maryland Department of Planning.

03/25/2026

Today is Maryland Day! Maryland Day is celebrated annually on March 25th to commemorate the day in 1634 that settlers who had recently arrived on two small sailing ships, the Ark and the Dove, celebrated the official founding of the colony with a day of thanksgiving. The settlement of Maryland was chartered on June 20th, 1632, by Charles I to Cecilius Calvert, the Lord of Baltimore. Cecilius Calvert’s brother, Leonard Calvert, and the settlers began the journey on November 22nd, 1633, but due to difficulties crossing the Atlantic and a three-week stay in the Caribbean to replenish supplies, they did not arrive in Maryland until March of 1634. Maryland Day was not formally observed until 1903, when the State Board of Education selected the day to devote to the teaching of Maryland history, and was officially authorized by the General Assembly as a state holiday in 1916.

03/24/2026

For Women’s History Month, the Laurel Historical Society is highlighting some of the important women in our organization’s history!

Another founding member of the Laurel Historical Society was Jean Wilson, who served as a volunteer, member of the Board of Directors, and Director Emerita. Jean was born in Takoma Park, MD and served as a secretary in her early adult life, including a month-long stint for former President Harry S. Truman during his transition out of the White House. She married Leo Wilson in 1953 and served as the First Lady of Laurel while her husband was Mayor from 1972-1978. After raising her family, she returned to the workforce, ultimately becoming the first female plant manager of Concrete Pipes & Products based in nearby Jessup. Jean was active in both the celebration of Laurel’s Centennial and 125th anniversary celebrations and she was recognized for her dedication to the community in 1994, when she was named a “Woman of Achievement in Prince George County’s History”. Jean’s commitment to the LHS continues beyond her, as her son-in-law, Steve Hubbard, previously served on the LHS Board of Directors, and her daughter, Maggie Hubbard, continues to serve today!

Image is of Jean Wilson cleaning the museum’s attic at its opening.

03/20/2026

Thank you Laurel TV for highlighting our new exhibition “Beyond the 4th" in their Laurel Community Spotlight! Check out the video on their YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-B67mkqLHY

03/19/2026

Save the date for Heritage on Tap: A Laurel Oktoberfest!
Saturday, October 17, 2026 | 4:00 to 8:00 PM
Ticket sales will begin in late August.

​This festive fall event will feature local breweries, Oktoberfest fare, German wines, a variety of Casino games, and so much more! Heritage on Tap is a fun new fundraiser without the formality and high ticket prices of our Annual Gala!

Last year, feedback from past gala guests and community members indicated a need for a more casual event with lower ticket prices, and we heard you!

​Please stay tuned for additional event details. More information is coming soon!

03/17/2026

For Women’s History Month, the Laurel Historical Society is highlighting some of the important women in our organization’s history!

Next, we are celebrating Jane Cole, another founder of the Laurel Historical Society and the co-founder/director of the Laurel Museum. Jane grew up in Laurel and dedicated herself to Laurel’s history, putting her interior design work to use in preserving historic buildings. She was a charter member of the Laurel Historic District Commission and was responsible for much of the historic building survey that helped determine the boundaries for the established historic district. At the museum, Jane served as the curator and designer for many of its early exhibitions, and she was a champion for maintaining the Laurel Museum’s collections, operations, and interpretation at the highest standards. The Laurel Museum and its visitors continue to benefit from her tireless work towards preserving the community’s history.

Image is of co-founders Jane Cole (left) and Elizabeth Compton (right).

03/12/2026

For Women’s History Month, the Laurel Historical Society is highlighting some of the important women in our organization’s history!

The first is Elizabeth (Betty) Compton, one of the founders of the Laurel Historical Society and co-founder/director of the Laurel Museum. Betty was born and raised in Laurel but left the city after attending nursing school and meeting her husband J. Richard Compton, with whom she spent a few years as a miliary wife living around the county and in Japan. Betty and her husband returned to Laurel and opened a private medical practice, and she resumed her commitment to the community and its history. Her service on the Laurel Bicentennial Commission to celebrate the United States 200th anniversary, effort to preserve the B&O station by placing it on the National Register of Historic Places, and production of an award-winning video on Laurel history in 1991 are just a few of the ways she contributed to preserving Laurel’s history during our organizational beginnings. Betty continued to be active in the Laurel Historical Society and Laurel Museum for the rest of her life, providing indispensable guidance, support, and knowledge for exhibitions, programs, and activities for the organization.

Photo credit: Laurel Museum Collection.

Image is of the Laurel Bicentennial Commission, taken at the Ball on July 2nd, 1976. The members from left to right, Jean Speicher, Herbert Smith, Elizabeth Compton, Jane Cole, Karen Bautz, Alice Bender, James Boss, Helen Haas, Leo Wilson, Col. Gilbert Check, and Doris Bowie seated in the front.

03/08/2026

March 8th is International Women’s Day! The first International Women’s Day was celebrated in 1911 on March 19th, before it was moved to the 8th in 1913. It was not until 1975 that it was first marked by the United Nations, and on the 100th anniversary in 2011 President Barack Obama proclaimed March to be National Women’s History Month.

To celebrate Women’s History Month, the Laurel Historical Society will highlight women important to our history - including our Co-Founders Betty Compton and Jane Cole who are featured in the photo - as well as discussing the roles women filled in celebrating freedom in the United States. Visit the museum during open hours to see our new exhibition “Beyond the 4th: Stories of Laurel’s Freedom Celebrations” to learn more!

02/22/2026