Lawrence Brown House, Historic residence in Bartow, Florida.

The L.B. Brown House at 470 L.B. Brown Avenue in Bartow is a two-story house completed in 1892 by Lawrence Bernard Brown, a master carpenter. It may be the only home built by a formerly enslaved person still standing in Florida. Until 1989 it was known as the Thomas House, after its last resident, Lavina Thomas.

Lawrence Bernard Brown was born into slavery in 1856 and later built this house after gaining his freedom, becoming a skilled carpenter and successful businessman. The residence represents his economic rise in Bartow during the late 1800s.

The house was long known as the "Thomas House" after its last resident, Lavina Thomas; only after her death in 1989 did research reveal L.B. Brown as the builder. Each year in mid-February Bartow honours his life and achievements at the L.B. Brown Festival, and a cornerstone bearing his name is to be placed in the National Museum of African American History and Culture.

This house requires advance planning to visit, as it is not open daily and operates on a limited schedule. It is best to contact the museum ahead of your visit to confirm hours and arrange a tour.

Brown kept detailed business ledgers that document his financial dealings and community connections, offering rare insight into the life of an African American entrepreneur of that era. These records reveal the everyday economic relationships he maintained within his town.