For over one hundred years, the cemetery became the final resting place of thousands of citizens from Maryland's African-American community.

After falling into disrepair, the cemetery land was purchased by developers and a shopping center was built overtop.

[5] That year, the cemetery was badly damaged when a cyclone hit Baltimore during the 1881 Atlantic hurricane season.

[9][14] In 2014, professors from the University of Baltimore and Coppin State University created the Laurel Cemetery Project to teach students about cultural resource management, history, archaeology, and environmental sustainability by undertaking work at the site.

[16][17] 229 soldiers from the United States Colored Troops were buried at Laurel Cemetery.