Bicentennial Lunch & Learn Series at Thomasville History Center

Thomasville History Center

THOMASVILLE, Ga. – In celebration of Thomasville’s 200th anniversary, a consortium of three local historical organizations—the Thomasville History Center, Jack Hadley Black History Museum, and Pebble Hill Plantation—has announced the 2026 Bicentennial Lunch & Learn Speaker Series, a free public lecture series highlighting 200 years of Thomasville and Thomas County history.

The series is a collaborative effort designed to bring multiple perspectives together during the City of Thomasville’s Bicentennial year. Lectures will be held at noon on the first Tuesday of select months in the Davis Wing at the Thomasville History Center. Guests are encouraged to bring their lunch; light refreshments will also be provided. All programs are free and open to the public.

The first lecture in the series will take place Tuesday, February 3, 2026, at 12:00 p.m., featuring Jack Hadley, Founder, President, and CEO of the Jack Hadley Black History Museum. Hadley will present a talk on the history of Thomas County’s Black community, exploring its local roots and broader historical significance.

“This series reflects the spirit of the Bicentennial—collaboration, shared stewardship, and a commitment to telling a fuller story of our community,” said Daniel Pittman, Executive Director of the Jack Hadley Black History Museum. “By working together, our organizations are able to offer programming that is inclusive, accessible, and grounded in scholarship.”

Additional lectures scheduled throughout 2026 will examine topics such as Thomas County history, Pebble Hill Plantation’s 200-year legacy, the history of Archbold Hospital, and regional ecology and conservation. Speakers include curators, historians, and educators from each partner organization, as well as invited guest scholars.

The Lunch & Learn Speaker Series is part of a broader slate of Bicentennial-related programs taking place throughout 2026 to commemorate the founding of the City of Thomasville and reflect on its enduring legacy.

For more information about the Bicentennial and related events, visit: https://thomasville.org/bicentennial-celebration-200-years

About the Thomasville History Center

The Thomasville History Center is located at 725 N. Dawson Street in the heart of Thomasville’s Dawson Street Residential Historic District. The Center is open Monday through Saturday, from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Guided tours of the Lapham-Patterson House at 626 N. Dawson Street are available Thursday through Saturday. For admission prices or to learn more, visit www.ThomasvilleHistory.org and follow @ThomasvilleHistory on Facebook and Instagram.

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