Originally called Laurel Factory, the town of Laurel today started as a 19th century milltown with ties to Baltimore along the B&O railroad line. Situated halfway between Baltimore and DC on the Patuxent River, it started as a small grist mill in 1811 and by 1840 had evolved into a cotton mill employing more than 700 workers. Join us and our guide Ann Bennett, Executive Director of the Laurel Historical Society, as we soak in the natural setting of historic Laurel while learning about its bustling past!