Laurel combines a city history linked to the timber industry with architecture, theater and music. A cultural visit has several clear focal points: historical development, blues and performing arts, as well as art and remembrance.
Timber History and Architecture
Laurel was founded in 1882 and developed alongside the growth of the timber industry. At the beginning of the 20th century, Laurel processed and shipped more yellow pine than anywhere else in the world. These two facts trace a timeline: the founding of the city and its industrial development are connected, and Laurel's role in processing and shipping timber reached a global scale. Those interested in how cities develop will find a tangible way into Laurel's history here.
The Laurel Central Historic District features Classical Revival, Bungalow/Craftsman and Queen Anne styles. These different designations give architecture enthusiasts several points of interest rather than reducing the district to a single style. Together with the timber history, they offer a view of Laurel that presents economic development and architecture as distinct themes.
Theater and Blues
The Arabian Theatre was built in 1927 as part of an addition behind the Pinehurst Hotel. Today, after more than six decades and over 240 productions, it remains the center of community theater in Laurel. The theater's construction history and its enduring role in community theater thus stand side by side. Those interested in the performing arts will find a clear point of reference in Laurel's cultural history here.
The history of the blues also extends beyond the city: The area around Laurel in southeastern Mississippi was a center of musical activity and home to several well-known blues musicians. They include harmonica player Sam Myers, singer Albennie Jones and guitarist Blind Roosevelt Graves. The Laurel Mother's Day Blues Festival began its long-running series of events in 1987. If you would like to plan your trip around a festival visit, check in advance whether an event is scheduled for your travel dates.
Another musical biography associated with Laurel is that of Leontyne Price. She was born in Laurel and began formal musical training at the age of five. Alongside the blues musicians from the area, her life story offers another perspective on the region's musical history: individual musical careers are also a focus, alongside festival history and blues.
Art, Remembrance and Green Space
The Laurel-Jones County Visitor Center includes an apartment furnished to represent the life of a typical family in 1940. It offers a different subject from the history of theater and music: the focus here is on portraying a family's daily life in a particular year. The Lauren Rogers Museum of Art opened in 1923 as a memorial to Lauren Eastman Rogers. Art and remembrance thus provide their own points of interest alongside the themes of urban development and music.
A family-friendly green space beneath shady oak trees is Trustmark Art Park in downtown Laurel. The park adds a green-space experience to the cultural themes. When planning, you can choose among city history, architecture, music and art, or consider the park as another facet of the area.
If you are considering Laurel as a destination for a cultural trip, these focal points can help you organize your interests: The timber industry provides the historical context, the Historic District represents architecture, and theater and music lead into Laurel's cultural life. Whether you are especially interested in blues, theater history, or art and remembrance, these themes can be incorporated into your plans for a stay in Laurel.
For the broader travel overview: Jones.
