Augusta Downtown Historic District facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Augusta Downtown Historic District
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
U.S. Historic district
Broad Street
Location in Georgia (U.S. state) Show map of Georgia (U.S. state) Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Location	Bounded by Gordon Hwy., 13 St., Augusta Canal, and the Savannah River
Architect	Multiple
Architectural style	Greek, Italianate, Gothic revival, Federal, Victorian, Queen Anne, Second Empire, Beaux Arts, Romanesque, Classical, Craftsman, Art Deco, and International
NRHP reference No.	04000515
Added to NRHP	June 11, 2004

Sacred Heart Cultural Center

The Augusta Downtown Historic District is a special area in Augusta, Georgia. It covers most of the city's downtown. This district includes many buildings from before the American Civil War. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2004. This means it is recognized as an important historical place.

Exploring Augusta's Historic Sites

Downtown Augusta is full of amazing historical places. These sites tell us a lot about the city's past. Let's explore some of the most famous ones.

Important Buildings and Churches

• Academy of Richmond County - 1801 campus
  • This was Georgia's very first school! It was designed by Richard Clarke and finished in 1801-1802. The first buildings were made of wood. Later, new buildings were built on Telfair Street.

• Augusta Cotton Exchange Building
  • This building was constructed in the 1880s. At that time, Augusta was a major center for cotton trade. Today, it is a branch of Georgia Bank and Trust.

• Church of the Most Holy Trinity
  • This beautiful church is another important historical landmark in the district.

• Congregation of B'nai Israel Synagogue
  • This synagogue opened in 1869. It is the oldest synagogue still standing in Georgia.

• First Baptist Church of Augusta
  • This church has a long history in Augusta. It is one of the city's oldest religious buildings.

• First Presbyterian Church
  • Another historic church, the First Presbyterian Church, adds to the district's rich past.

• Gertrude Herbert Institute of Art
  • This art school was started in 1937. It is the only independent, non-profit visual arts school in the Augusta-Aiken area. It helps people learn about and create art.

• Lamar Building
  • Built in 1913, the Lamar Building has 16 floors. It is the third tallest building in Augusta. Architect William Lee Stoddart designed this impressive structure.

• Old Government House
  • This building was the local government's headquarters from 1801 to 1821. Now, it is used as a reception hall for events.

• Old Medical College of Georgia Building
  • This building was home to the Medical College of Georgia from 1835 to 1913. Today, it is a center for conferences and events for the medical school.

• Sacred Heart Cultural Center
  • Built in 1900, this building was once a Roman Catholic church. Now, it is a popular center for different events and activities.

• St. Paul's Episcopal Church
  • Founded in 1750, this is the oldest church in Augusta. It was destroyed in a fire in 1916 but was rebuilt in 1919.

• United States Post Office and Courthouse
  • This historic building served as both a post office and a courthouse for many years.

Historic Homes in Downtown Augusta

Downtown Augusta also has many old homes. Most of these houses were built in the 1800s. They show us how people lived long ago.

• Brahe House
• Joseph Rucker Lamar Boyhood Home
  • This was the home of Joseph Rucker Lamar when he was studying law.

• Phinizy Residence
• Platt Fleming Walker d'Antignac House
• Woodrow Wilson Boyhood Home
  • This was the home of Woodrow Wilson until he was 14 years old. He later became a President of the United States.

• Zachary Daniels House