The Lauren Rogers Museum of Art is celebrating 85 years of service to the City of Laurel and the entire region.

As part of the Eastman Memorial Foundation Board of Directors’ Donor Recognition Dinner Wednesday night, museum supporters honored not only the stability of the museum, but its growth and expansion of offerings.

Sen. Thad Cochran, the keynote speaker at the dinner, said he made a tour of the state’s museums after he was elected.

“In my judgment this was the finest, this was the best public museum in our state,” Cochran told the supporters. He continued by mentioning portions of the museum’s collection have traveled across the country, including stops at the Smithsonian.

Director George Bassi mentioned the 85th Anniversary during his remarks. He quoted the museum’s board minutes that were recorded just after Wallace Brown Rogers’ death. Wallace Brown Rogers was Lauren Rogers’ father.

“His splendid mind was always at work on some project,” Bassi read. “He never took things for granted.”

Bassi also expressed his gratitude to the museum’s donors, saying donations exceeded the goal of $160,000.

“All of you are here tonight because of your support of the Lauren Rogers Museum of Art and your support of its educational mission. ... I dare you to find another museum or institution of this size with this kind of support.”