A Note from Toni Dean
Program Manager, Lucy Craft Laney Museum of Black History and Conference Center
The Lucy Craft Laney Museum of Black History has visitors throughout the year from all over the world. At the end of many tours, the most common question I am asked by local and non-local visitors is what other black-history related places can be visited in the area.
This in fact is one of my favorite questions, because it gives me a chance to promote the city and all the wonderful efforts that have been made to preserve its history, and specifically black history. I’ve compiled a list of places in downtown Augusta, primarily in the Laney-Walker Boulevard Corridor, where one can easily spend a day or two enjoying Augusta’s African American history.
Lucy Craft Laney Museum of Black History and Grave Site of Miss Laney
Learn about the legacy of educator Lucy Craft Laney, the history of the Golden Blocks Neighborhood and other history-making African Americans in the River Region.
Laney-Walker Boulevard “History Walk”
Take a stroll down Laney-Walker Boulevard and learn about the contributions of 27 influential African Americans from the Augusta community in the arts, religion, education, medicine, and science.
Golden Blocks Tour – Virtual or Self-guided
Take a virtual tour or self-guided tour of Augusta’s historic black neighborhood – The Golden Blocks. Encompassing multiple blocks near the Laney-Walker Boulevard corridor, it was once a thriving and synergic residential neighborhood interspersed with African-American owned business. For more information visit: http://bit.ly/goldenblockstour
Golden Block Murals Located in the Laney-Walker Boulevard Corridor
While visiting the Laney-Walker Boulevard Corridor, enjoy public art murals from four of Augusta’s African American artists. The murals highlight the people of and capture the spirit of the Golden Blocks Community.
Twiggs Street Statue
Many of Augusta’s African Americans in medicine resided in the Twiggs Street area of the Golden Blocks. Visit the soon to be unveiled statue that will pay tribute to local African Americans in medicine.
Springfield Village Park
Within walking distance of the Augusta Riverwalk, lies Springfield Village Park, established in recognition of Augusta’s Free Black Community that inhabited that area through the 18th and early 20th centuries. Adjacent to the park, rests Springfield Baptist, the oldest continually operated African American church in the country and origins of Atlanta’s Morehouse College.
James Brown Boulevard Wall Mural and Various Murals Along Broad Street
Enjoy highlights from the life of internationally known R&B singer James Brown through a colorful mural located on the formerly named 9th Street, where he once shined shoes, and other murals interspersed along Broad Street corridor. The mural is not too far away from a park featuring a life-sized statue of the Godfather of Soul.
James Family Historical Tours
Visit Augusta’s sites significant to James Brown from the days of his childhood to his success as an world-renowned superstar. Tours are held once a week on Saturdays.
In the River Region, one can learn about the area’s black history, arts and culture by also visiting the Augusta Museum of History; Augusta Canal Museum; the Morris Museum of Art; the City Gallery at the Augusta Richmond County Municipal Building; the 1970 Augusta Riot Exhibit at the Augusta Mini Theatre; the North Augusta Arts & Heritage Center; Aiken’s Center for African American History, Art and Culture; the McCormick County African American Museum; and Redcliffe Plantation, Beech Island, SC.
