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Hotel Thomas
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Western entrance to the Thomas Center
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| Location: | Gainesville, Florida |
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| Built: | 1910 |
| Architect: | William Augustus Edwards of Edwards & Saywards; |
| Architectural style: | Classical Revival, Other |
| Governing body: | City of Gainesville |
| NRHP Reference#: | 73000563[1] |
| Added to NRHP: | July 16, 1973 |
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]
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]
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 1920's period rooms, local history exhibits, a performance space, banquet rooms, and meeting rooms.