A Walk Through History
/A Walk Through History
Thomasville, North Carolina has an abundance of diverse and fascinating history. However, some of the intricate details of our city may not be well known to some of its residents and visitors. Ten years ago several groups came together to change that and created three walking tours that help showcase the town’s beautiful history, both past, and present.
Tour Guide Phone App
The Thomasville Tourism Commission worked diligently to get the word out about these historical walks. They included tour information in both print and online versions of the Visitor’s Guide. Then they realized that if you didn’t have the guide in hand, you weren’t able to enjoy a walking tour on a whim.
Jarrod Dunbar, the Tourism Director, contacted the library, asking them to partner with him on a project to get the info on the library website and to create a tour guide phone app. Joy Cecil-Dyrkacz with the Thomasville Library was extremely instrumental in putting this all together for the town.
The three walking tours are steeped with historical significance about Thomasville and are known as The Church Walk, The Commerce Walk, and The Historic Homes Walk. Each tour is a little under a mile long so they are fairly easy to endeavor.
The Church Walk
This tour route passes a number of former churches that served as temporary hospitals during the Civil War and a variety of historic buildings along Randolph Street. Thomasville is a part of the North Carolina Civil War Trails program because the town became a hospital center to treat wounded soldiers. During this tour, you can see both the cemetery where fallen soldiers were buried and a marker that explains more about Thomasville’s involvement.
The Commerce Walk
The Commerce Walk allows you to take a stroll past several downtown businesses. Some of the sights that are well known include the clock tower, the Big Chair, and a few painted murals.
Another site that is a true asset to the Thomasville community is the Hunter Family Amphitheater, located in PACE Park. There was quite a bit of effort that went into creating this landmark. A citizen-led organization known as the PACE Group works to continuously improve Thomasville. During the 1990’s, they bought land and built the amphitheater and Farmer’s Market which are both parts of PACE Park.
The Historic Homes Walk
The architecture on this tour is truly something to behold! Whether you fancy the unique look of the Peacock Home or the stately appearance of the columns found on the J.T. Strickland Home, you’ll want to check out the beautiful homes along Salem Street. The Kress Home, located at 125 Salem Street, is very attractive with an airplane bungalow style. The Kress family owned this home in the early 1920’s and owned a clothing store in downtown Thomasville.
Taste a Bit of History
There is so much to learn, see, and do in Thomasville. Take an opportunity to check out one of the historical walks, visit a few downtown shops, and enjoy a fresh cup of coffee or a meal at a restaurant that you’ve never been to. Be a part of history and dive into the culture of Thomasville where you are sure to find beauty, variety, and unique treasures that are meant to be enjoyed.
