Augusta: History, Culture, and Ways by the Water

Augusta offers a range of options to consider when planning your trip: historic homes and museums, as well as paths by the water and through a floodplain. The themes you focus on will depend on whether you’re interested in the history of the South, specific historical exhibits, or outdoor activities.

Cultural History in Augusta

Sacred Heart Cultural Center was a Catholic church dating from around 1897 and is located in Augusta’s Downtown Historic District. Today, the Center offers free, self-guided tours Monday through Friday between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Access may be restricted during private events, so check the latest information before you arrive. There is also a free scavenger hunt through the Great Hall for young people.

The Boyhood Home of Woodrow Wilson is a National Historic Landmark and a house museum that depicts Wilson’s childhood in Georgia during the Civil War and Reconstruction. It is considered the oldest presidential residence in Georgia. Tours are offered Wednesday through Saturday at six set times: 10 a.m., 11 a.m., 1 p.m., 2 p.m., 3 p.m., and 4 p.m. Unlike the self-guided tours at Sacred Heart Center, tours here are offered at scheduled times. As the schedule may change, check it before your visit.

At the Augusta Canal Discovery Center at Enterprise Mill, the history of the building meets the region’s industrial history: the Center is housed in a former textile mill and presents the history of the Industrial Revolution in the American South. It also shows how Augusta used its waterways for redevelopment and to shape its future development. The Augusta Museum of History is dedicated to preserving and presenting local and regional history and is Augusta’s oldest historical institution. Its permanent exhibit, “Augusta’s Story,” takes visitors on a 12,000-year journey through the region’s past. The “Transportation Corridor” exhibit offers a more specific point of reference, featuring a fully restored locomotive from 1914.

Paths and Landscapes

The wide, flat towpath along the Augusta Canal is regularly used by walkers, cyclists, and runners. At Phinizy Swamp Nature Park, the trails mainly differ in length and surface: the Beaver Dam Trail is about 0.5 miles long and offers views across the Butler Creek floodplain. The unpaved Pond Trail is 0.8 miles long and is intended for hiking and biking.

Another view across the Butler Creek floodplain can be seen from the 0.1-mile wooden Floodplain Boardwalk at Phinizy Swamp Nature Park. It includes a covered observation platform. The trails described here therefore offer different features: the Beaver Dam Trail’s approximate distance and views, the Pond Trail’s unpaved surface and intended activities, and the boardwalk with its platform.

The Augusta Riverwalk is a multi-level brick walkway along the banks of the Savannah River. It is wheelchair accessible via access points at 10th Street by the Augusta Marriott, at a large parking lot near the entrance on 8th Street, and at the entrance on 6th Street near the Augusta Museum of History. These details about the access points can help you include the Riverwalk in your plans.

Richmond as a Regional Context

Within the broader travel destination of Richmond, Richmond County includes Augusta, Hephzibah, and Blythe. The county is in east-central Georgia and borders the Savannah River as well as the state line with South Carolina. It was established in 1777 as one of Georgia’s original counties. This provides regional context; the historic sites and paths above each have their own themes and visitor conditions.

Discover more destinations: Hephzibah.

Back to the broader travel overview: Richmond.