First Christian Church, Augusta, GA ~   Augusta Area Information   ~ Are you moving to the Augusta area in the future? Do you have family living here? Maybe you already reside in the area. This section of our website will give you some general information about the area with some websites that we hope will be helpful to you. While you are in Augusta, we invite you to come by First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) for a visit. We are located at 629 Greene Street (corner of 7th and Greene) in downtown Augusta, and we would love to have you join us in Christian worship. Please check our   WELCOME   page for more information.   In the Beginning                                                   Located about halfway along the eastern Georgia border with South Carolina, the city of Augusta, Georgia is situated on the Savannah River. It was here that a fort and trading post were established many years ago when the American Indians still held claim to the surrounding area. Before the massive European immigration to the "New World," this area was host to many Indian camps along the river. Evidence of some of these camps can still be seen along its banks.         Celtic Cross marking Fort Augusta By order of General James Edward Oglethorpe, founder of the city of Savannah and the Georgia colony, a town was established in the early 1700s and named for Prince Frederick of Wales' wife, Princess Augusta. According to old maps, Augusta was positioned not far upriver from "Moor" Bluff-the location of Ft. Moore, South Carolina-and New Savannah, Georgia. General James Edward Oglethorpe Like the port of Savannah, the city of Augusta was captured by the British during the American Revolution. The capital of Georgia was officially moved to Augusta after having been located in Savannah. This title was later bestowed on the city of Louisville before moving on to Milledgeville and then to Atlanta, the present-day capital. The Savannah River has been Augusta's livelihood. Goods, both raw and manufactured, were shipped up and down the river between the cities of Augusta and Savannah for much of Augusta's history, but commercial traffic ceased between the two cities as recent as about 20 to 30 years ago. The river flows in a more west to east pattern through the downtown area of Augusta before it takes its turn toward the south and then southeast heading toward the port of Savannah and the Atlantic Ocean. North Augusta owes its name due to this simple geography and its relative position to Augusta-north of Augusta. Things Change                        Sibley Manufacturing Co. Bell As the rise of the industrial age throughout the South, more and more mills began to spring up. Some prominent businessmen wanted to build mills on the outskirts of Augusta and saw an opportunity to have a canal dug in the 1840s to furnish these mills with water. One of those men was John Pendleton King who owned the John P. King Manufacturing Company. He was also head of the Georgia Railroad Bank for a period of time. Mrs. Emily Tubman owned shares in both ventures. There are two mills located along the canal that are still in operation today. They are known as the old King Mill and Sibley Mill but have newer occupants. Augusta Canal Headgates The head gates for the Augusta Canal lie in present day Columbia County at the Savannah Rapids Pavilion complex. A road, not open to motor transportation, runs between the head gates and the water intake plant in Richmond County. This area has become part of a heritage corridor, and it is a great place to run, walk, and bike. The canal is also a great place to canoe, and canal tours take place in replicas of the old Petersburg boats that once frequented the canal years ago. There is an interpretive center at the Enterprise Mill along the canal in Augusta near the Archibald Butt Bridge. To find out more about the activities along the canal as well as schedules for tours, etc., be sure to visit the Augusta Canal's website at:  www.augustacanal.com Maj. Archibald W. Butt Bridge At the headgates in Columbia County, the Lockkeeper's cottage houses the Savannah Rapids Visitor Center. It is open to the public and has displays and pictures chronicling some of the history of the canal and the locks or gates to the canal. More information about the headgates and park can be found through links at: www.savannahrapids.com Back from the Dust Augusta Riverwalk, Levee, and Savannah River There have been some bleak times for Augusta and some of these include the times when Augusta fell victim to fire and flood. Even though small levees were built along the Savannah River much earlier, it wasn't until the early 1900s that a more substantial levee system was built to control river flooding. A part of the levee now gives support to the upper section of the Augusta Riverwalk in downtown. People can go for walks, picnics, and such along this outdoor promenade which runs parallel to the river. Exhibits along the walk display some of Augusta's history including markers with flood levels and dates for some of the city's worst floods of the 20th century. This is an excellent place to view the river as well as some wildlife, too. Fires were not unheard of in downtown Augusta, but the worst one was the great fire of 1916. It is said to have destroyed 25 blocks of houses, churches, schools, businesses, and warehouses. According to the Augusta Chronicle (the local newspaper), 3,000 people were left homeless, and the fire caused $10 million in damage. The city was rebuilt but the population composition changed in the downtown area due to many people moving to other areas of the county.   Old Cotton Exchange Building Fast forward to today and you will find many hospitals in the area including University Hospital, the Medical College of GA (MCG) and Children's Hospital, the V.A. Hospital (Veterans Administration), St. Joseph Hospital, and Doctor's Hospital. Dwight D. Eisenhower Army Medical Center or Eisenhower Medical Center is another hospital in the area and is housed on the U.S. Army military installation of Ft. Gordon. Located in southwest Richmond County, Ft. Gordon's main inhabitant is The U.S. Army Signal Training Center, but there are various other attachments located on its grounds. Some of the other employers in the Augusta area include: Morris Communications Corp. (publishes the Augusta Chronicle as well as other city's newspapers, etc.), Club Car, E-Z-Go Textron, International Paper, Augusta Newsprint Co., John Deere, and Georgia Power in Georgia. Savannah River Site (S.R.S.) is a major employer in South Carolina. These businesses are just a very few of the ones located in the area. Two airports serve Augusta. Augusta Regional Airport (Bush Field) is located south of the downtown area and sees the most commercial traffic. Daniel Field is located along Wrightsboro Road in the Daniel Village area and is used for much smaller planes. Both airports are extremely busy around the first week of April, and both have played host to some great air shows. As for colleges, there is Augusta State University which is part of the University of Georgia System. Other colleges in the area include, Paine College, Augusta Technical College, and the Medical College (MCG) in Georgia and Aiken Technical College in South Carolina. There are many satellite colleges who also meet in the area. The East Georgia Police Academy is located on the outskirts of Augusta and has trained some great men and women during the many years of its operation. Entertainment and Sports Larger indoor arena events are held at the Augusta-Richmond Co. Civic Center. Some of these events include ice hockey (Augusta Lynx), cutting horse competitions (Augusta Futurity), concerts, exhibitions, and trade shows. The William B. Bell Auditorium is used for smaller events and has more of a theater-type design. Augusta GreenJackets' Stadium While the weather in Augusta is of a moderate climate, most outdoor events are held during the summer. One of these events includes the area's minor league baseball team, the Augusta GreenJackets, who play at Lake Olmstead Stadium. The J. Strom Thurmond Lake, known also to area residents as Clarks Hill Reservoir, was formed when a dam was added to the Savannah River upstream of Augusta between Columbia Co., GA and McCormick Co., SC by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in the late 1940s and early 1950s. While the official purpose of the dam was to maintain water levels and create hydroelectricity, many people continue to enjoy recreation on the large pool of water created by the dam. There are several beautiful parks along the borders of the lake with boat docks at most. Private residences are also seen along the shoreline of the lake. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers website for Thurmond Lake is www.sas.usace.army.mil/lakes/thurmond/ For horse lovers, there is the Aiken Triple Crown which is composed of the Aiken Trials, the Aiken Steeplechase, and a match of polo. These Spring events are held in Aiken, South Carolina. Harness racing was replaced recently with polo, and this old sport is finding a new fan base in Aiken once again. The Gold Cup Polo Tournament was played in Aiken in the fall of 2005, and it has been scheduled to return. If this is not your thing, check out the Hippodrome in North Augusta. They host a variety of events throughout the year. Oh my, we can't forget golf. The Augusta National is located just off Washington Road in the National Hills area and is where all eyes are focused the first week of April, but it is not the only golf course in town. Golf courses seem to be in abundance everywhere in the Central Savannah River Area (C.S.R.A). Arts of several forms play a big part of Augusta. As for the canvas medium, displays of work are exhibited in the Morris Museum of Art, the Gertrude Herbert Institute of Art, and Artists' Row to name a few. In order to bring more people downtown after the mall exodus of the late 1970s, the city leaders of Augusta created Artists' Row on Broad Street as a section of store buildings that are reserved for artists as a place to exhibit some of their best works while giving them a place to create as well as to educate others about their craft. While canvas is not the only medium used, most works displayed are for sale. These are excellent works and pieces. Another way to bring more people downtown was the inception of First Friday. This event is held on the first Friday every month in the downtown area so people can enjoy the works of talented artists as well as some great food at local restaurants. The biggest art celebration takes place in the fall and is called "Arts in the Heart of Augusta Festival." While several forms of art are showcased in this weekend event, there is a different cultural theme every year. There is much variety in the performing arts category. Whether it be the ballet, symphony, opera, or theatre, it is all here to enjoy. Performances take place year-round, but the time around Christmas is especially busy. Visiting artists also make appearances throughout the year. There are many venues located in the area with more being added this year. There is sure to be something for everyone. Be sure to check out some of these places while in downtown Augusta: Augusta Museum of History, the Lucy Craft Laney Museum, and Ft. Discovery. Part of the National Science Center, Ft. Discovery is a hands-on learning and discovery environment for kids as well as families. The beautiful gardens at the Golf Hall of Fame house some of golf's best players---in bronze of course. There is much more to enjoy as the list of things to do continues. Please check our Helpful Websites page for a listing of websites with more information for locations, times, and fees (if applicable).     This is a very small overview of Augusta. There is much more history and many more things to do. Much information has been left out due to space, but the Helpful Websites page will give you more information about the area including the Augusta Metro Convention and Visitor Bureau and some government websites of the surrounding area. We hope they help. Good travels to you.