General James Oglethorpe founded Augusta along the bank of the Savannah River.
Augusta is Georgia’s second oldest city and was established in 1736 as a colonial trading post. Augusta’s history includes roles in the Revolutionary and Civil Wars. Growth and development in Augusta saw important contributions to American development throughout the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries. Built in the decades following the Civil War, the King and Sibley textile mills still function today. The Confederate Powderworks Monument is in front of Sibley Mill on Goodrich Street, and several Civil War sites are within the community.
The Augusta Museum of History was established in 1937 and today displays the preservation and sharing of the material history of Augusta and the region. From a 10,000 year-old projectile point, to a 1914 locomotive, the collections chronicle a rich and fascinating past.
Augusta is the birthplace of Amy Grant, Laurence Fishburne, Jessye Norman, Terri Gibbs, Danny Glover, Joe Penney, Boxer Ray Mercer, Novelist Frank Yerby, Wrestler Hulk Hogan and pro golfer Larry Mize.
