Hotel Thomas

The Hotel Thomas, also known as Sunkist Villa but currently known as the Thomas Center, is an historic building in Gainesville, Florida, United States. It is located on the block bounded by Northeast 2nd and 5th Streets and Northeast 6th and 7th Avenues. It was built starting in 1910 in the Classical Revival style by noted Atlanta-based architect, William Augustus Edwards, designer of academic buildings at 12 institutions in Georgia, South Carolina and Florida, including the original University of Florida campus, as well as a dozen or more county courthouses in those states plus other building and houses,[2][3]

Hotel Thomas
Western entrance to the Thomas Center
LocationGainesville, Florida
Coordinates29°39′45″N 82°19′47″W
Built1910
ArchitectWilliam Augustus Edwards of Edwards & Saywards;
Architectural styleClassical Revival, Other
NRHP reference No.73000563[1]
Added to NRHPJuly 16, 1973

The building began as the private home of William Reuben Thomas, his wife Kathryn, and their five children.[4] In 1928 Thomas more than doubled the size of the home and converted it to a hotel.[4] On July 16, 1973, the building was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.

The Thomas Center celebrated its 100th anniversary on February 12, 2010.[5]

Thomas Center

Today the Thomas Center serves as a local art and cultural center, and is the home for the Gainesville Cultural Affairs Division. The Thomas Center Galleries feature changing exhibits of art. The Center also features 1920s period rooms, local history exhibits, a performance space, banquet rooms, and meeting rooms.

References
  1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. January 23, 2007.
  2. "University of Florida biography of William Augustus Edwards". Archived from the original on 2008-06-28. Retrieved 2008-04-09.
  3. Multiple Resource Area for 4 of the 9 South Carolina courthouses designed by William Augustus Edwards - 12 pages
  4. "Thomas Center History and Tours". Gainesville, Florida. Retrieved 2010-06-11.
  5. Pantazi, Andrew (14 February 2010). "Thomas Center celebrates 100th birthday". The Independent Florida Alligator. Gainesville. Retrieved 15 February 2010.
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