Lapham-Patterson House State Historic Site
🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆 Georgia — Quirky Victorian showpiece in Thomasville — built in 1885 with NO right angles! Every room has at least 2 exits because owner C.W. Lapham survived a hotel fire and was terrified of being trapped. Features a fish-scale shingled turret, walk-through closets, and gas lighting throughout.
Visitor Information
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Location | Georgia |
About Lapham-Patterson
Lapham-Patterson House State Historic Site in Thomasville preserves an 1885 Victorian cottage that is one of the most architecturally innovative houses in the South. Designed for Chicago shoe mogul C.W. Lapham, the house features no two rooms alike, a double-flue chimney, fish-scale shingles, and extensive stained glass. Thomasville was the “Winter Resort of the South” in the 1880s-1890s, when Northern millionaires built hunting plantations in the surrounding longleaf pine forests.
Things to Do
Touring the architecturally innovative Victorian house (guided tours), admiring the stained glass and ornate woodwork, exploring Thomasville’s historic downtown, and visiting nearby plantation homes from the Gilded Age resort era.
Getting There
Located on North Dawson Street in Thomasville. Guided tours available Thursday through Saturday. Thomasville’s Big Oak — a 300+ year old live oak with a 162-foot crown spread — is one block away. The Thomasville Rose Garden and downtown antique district add to a full day visit. Three hours south of Atlanta.
History & Ecology
Thomasville’s role as a Gilded Age winter resort attracted Northern industrialists including the Hanna, Chapin, and Whitney families, who built 70+ hunting plantations in the surrounding longleaf pine forests. These plantations — managed with prescribed fire — inadvertently preserved some of the last significant stands of longleaf pine ecosystem in America. The Big Oak downtown has a crown spread of 162 feet — one of the largest live oaks in the South.
Insider Tips
Victorian marvel: The Lapham-Patterson House (1885) is one of the most unusual Victorian homes in the South — no two rooms are the same shape, and the house has 45 exits. Pro tip: Charles Lapham, who built the house, had survived a hotel fire — the 45 exits reflect his fire anxiety. Thomasville: Thomasville was a fashionable winter resort for Northern wealthy families in the late 1800s — the “Winter Resort of the South.”
Best Time to Visit
Year-round: House tours. Spring: Rose gardens. Fall: Comfortable weather. Winter: Experience the “resort” season.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Northerners winter in Thomasville?
Before air conditioning made Florida comfortable year-round, Thomasville’s mild winters and pine-scented air attracted wealthy Northerners — including the Rockefellers and Hannas. The town was accessible by rail and had excellent hotels. The area’s longleaf pine forests were believed to have health benefits. Many visitors built plantation-style estates. When Florida tourism boomed in the 1920s, Thomasville faded — but the historic estates remain.
📍 Visit Lapham-Patterson House State Historic Site
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