Augusta Canal National Heritage Area

It was a very nice place to spend some time, although the canal boats were not working when I went. The intro movie, only 10 minutes in length, did a good job explaining the development of Augusta's canals and importance as a center of industry. Exhibits included a lot of interactive opportunities for kids, and were well thought out. Admission was very reasonable, and the gift shop worth a walk-through.

If you get the chance to go, you should definitely go! I went with my grandson's cub scouts group, and we all had a wonderful time. The hosts were friendly and informative on the tour along the canal, and they were so patient with the boys. It's beautiful along the canal. We even got to see one of the birds spreading its wings to dry off. And, there's a big flower sculpture that she explains along with the histories of the canal and the buildings as you ride the canal boat down and back. After the tour of the canal, everyone wandered through the museum, pushing the buttons to listen to the recordings, turning cranks to watch the water flow, and touching cotton bales and skulls of animals that had been found in the canal.

Always fun. Spectacular musician on a Friday evening tour. Playing guitar, outstanding voice, Georgia songs and sing along romantic music. Museum absolutely worth a visit before the canal tour.

Beautiful scenery and full of history you can feel. Quiet area below the canal, with a few "artifacts" and remnants of structures. Be mindful of the businesses and residents there when you visit. Walking up to the canal is also a treat. Steady foot traffic of those getting exercise and taking in the scenery or air. Do keep an eye out for the population that calls under the bridges "home". Haven't had a negative experience, but I also respect space.

I visited during the First Annual Augusta Canal Heritage Festival, the first time I'd heard of the canal. The museum provides an interesting overview of the canal's history with a set of detailed models of the canal area of Augusta. The signage of the displays provides details about who was involved with the building of the canal and the textile mills along its banks and how the canal influenced Augusta. I suggest that you also visit the Augusta Museum of History. Both the Museum of History and the Augusta Canal exhibits work together to provide a history of Augusta and both can be done in a single day. The gift shop is small but does have a selection of paperbacks on various subjects of the canal and Augusta. There are also postcards and note paper. A shortened version of a trip on the canal onboard a canal boat offered during the festival was interesting and relaxing. Going beneath Butt Memorial Bridge with the swallows flitting about was exciting. We saw other wildlife and flowers on the banks during our trip. Parking for the festival was available on both sides of the converted mill building where the museum is housed. The canal itself is along a ridge hence elevated above the plaza outside the museum and its building. Metal stairs are used to move from the plaza up to the canal bank. There is a restaurant across the alley from the museum however I ate lunch from a food truck on my visit.