Chances are, you’ve seen at least one vintage Laurel postcard in your life before. Maybe it was a 1950s picture of the Laurel (Tastee) Diner. Or more likely, it was a memento from Laurel’s most popular attraction throughout the past century, Laurel Park Racecourse.
Admittedly, I can’t recall having seen any postcards of Laurel while I was growing up there in the 1980s. By then, most had been relegated to personal scrap books (and unfortunately, quite a few probably ended up in garbage cans). The Laurel Historical Society has undoubtedly preserved many, and the Laurel Library has at least thoughtfully photocopied some of the oldest examples.
But what if I told you that there have likely been well over 100 picture postcards of Laurel, Maryland produced since the early 1900s? Many of them featuring motels, restaurants, and street scenes that have long-since disappeared… and a few that actually still exist today.
John Floyd II has amassed a tremendous collection of original Laurel postcards over the course of several years, and was kind enough to lend me his entire album to be scanned and shared. Here now are over 80 cards, front and back. Some bear interesting correspondence and postmarks, others are as blank as they were the day they were first purchased—undoubtedly in Laurel.
All postcards courtesy of J.D. Floyd II, Royal Blue Ltd. archives
Lost Laurel 
Precious pictures bring back memories
Richard,
Wonderful! I have seen many or most, but not all. I guess you know we (LHS) had an exhibit on postcards several years ago.
Jim
Thanks for saving and posting these great pictures.
Mitzi Tornese Flyte Reinbold
Thanks a million for posting all of these wonderful postcards. I recognize some of the places, but certainly not the ones from way, way back. It was fun reading some of the messages that were written on them! Also, nice to see that people actually wrote one another letters; nowadays all most of us do is email and text! Sweet memories…thank you so much for making my day!