THOMASVILLE — The Thomasville History Center was awarded a $4,200 grant by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Later this fall, the Thomasville History Center’s Lapham-Patterson Committee and community stakeholders, as well as the state of Georgia Department of Natural Resources, will work with Ethos Preservation out of Savannah to develop an adaptive reuse plan that will help determine the future use of the Lapham-Patterson House to the Thomasville community. 

“Organizations like Thomasville History Center, help to ensure that communities all across America retain their unique sense of place,” said Paul Edmondson, president of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. “We are honored to provide a grant to the Thomasville History Center, which will use the funds to help preserve an important piece of our shared national heritage.”

Grants from the National Trust Preservation Fund range from $2,500 to $5,000 and have provided over $15 million since 2003. These matching grants are awarded to nonprofit organizations and public agencies across the country to support wide-ranging activities including consultant services for rehabilitating buildings, technical assistance for tourism that promotes historic resources, and the development of materials for education and outreach campaigns.

Constructed in 1885 for Emma and Charles Lapham, the whimsical home showcases the progressive eccentricities of Lapham, his architect Tudor Rommerdall, and the Thomasville’s Resort Era. It was home to three families, hosted funerals and weddings, and has at various points both delighted sightseers and entranced schoolchildren with its unusual architecture.  

After opening as a museum in the early 1970s, in 1975 it became Thomasville’s only National Historic Landmark. Since 2009, the Thomasville History Center has managed the House in partnership with the state of Georgia.  

The Thomasville History Center was formed in 1952 and opened a museum within the Flowers-Roberts House in 1972. Since 1972, the Thomasville History Center’s collections have grown to include more than 500,000 artifacts and archival materials and eight historic structures. its board, staff, and growing membership invite you to join them in their dedication to enriching the community through the exploration and discovery of its history, people, and stories. 

The National Trust for Historic Preservation is a privately-funded nonprofit organization that works to save America’s historic places to enrich our future. The National Trust for Historic Preservation is committed to protecting America’s rich cultural legacy and helping build vibrant, sustainable communities that reflect our nation’s diversity. Follow on Twitter @savingplaces.