Thomasville Times-Enterprise: Thomasville History Center joins Rose Show festivities
Thomasville Times-Enterprise, April 16, 2026
The Thomasville History Center will join in this year’s Rose Show & Festival with a series of special offerings that highlight the community’s traditions during Thomasville’s historic bicentennial year.
At the Lapham-Patterson House, the History Center will present Thomasville & Tiaras, a pop-up exhibit featuring a curated display of past Thomasville Rose Queen gowns and crowns. The exhibit offers visitors a rare opportunity to explore the pageantry and legacy of one of Thomasville’s most cherished annual traditions within an iconic historic home.
The exhibit will be on view from April 23 through May 16, 2026, and is included with regular guided tour admission at the Lapham-Patterson House, offered Thursday through Saturday. Tickets are available online or at the Thomasville History Center front desk.
As part of Rose Show weekend, the Lapham-Patterson House will also host a free open house on Saturday, April 25, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Visitors are invited to explore the exhibit at their own pace and experience the elegance and craftsmanship of Rose Show traditions in Thomasville’s only National Historic Landmark.
Guests can also attend a meet-and-greet from 11:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. with Miss Thomasville Ana Chambers, Miss Thomasville’s Teen Kinley Harrison, Court Member Madeline Patz, and Court Member Savannah Harpe.
In addition to activities at the Lapham-Patterson House, the History Center campus will feature demonstrations by the Thomasville Amateur Radio Club, which will be set up outside the front of the museum from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The History Center and its gift shop will also be open to visitors during those hours.
The History Center will also participate in the Rose Parade on Friday, April 24, when Curator of Collections Ephraim Rotter will drive Bill Cox’s 1923 Ford Model T down Broad Street with special dignitaries in tow. The Model T is one of four historic vehicles in the History Center’s collection, all on permanent exhibit in the Roberts Garage.
“These offerings reflect our commitment to being an active participant in the life of the community,” said Executive Director Austin Bell. “During this bicentennial year, we are especially excited to contribute to the Rose Show by sharing the stories, traditions, and experiences that make Thomasville so special.”
