Did You Know? Augusta Facts from Pre-1899

1. Augusta was founded in 1736 by General James Oglethorpe, making it one of the oldest cities in Georgia.

2. The Augusta Canal, constructed in 1845, is the only industrial canal in the American South still in use for its original purpose.

3. Augusta was the second capital of Georgia, serving as the state capital from 1785 to 1795.

4. In 1797, the state’s first medical school, now known as the Medical College of Georgia, was established in Augusta.

5. The Augusta Arsenal, built in 1816, supplied arms during the War of 1812 and later the Civil War.

6. In 1821, Augusta National Cemetery was established and later became the resting place of many soldiers from the Civil War.

7. The Augusta Chronicle, founded in 1785, is one of the oldest newspapers still in circulation in the United States.

8. Augusta’s location on the Savannah River made it a key trading hub during the 19th century, with steamboats transporting goods up and down the river.

9. In 1861, Augusta was home to the Powder Works, the only permanent Confederate gunpowder factory during the Civil War.

10. The Georgia Railroad, completed in 1845, helped Augusta grow as a commercial center, connecting it with other major cities in Georgia.

11. In 1799, the first bridge over the Savannah River was built, linking Augusta to South Carolina and enhancing trade.

12. The Augusta Museum of History, originally founded in 1836, is one of the oldest institutions of its kind in the Southeast.

13. In 1820, Augusta experienced a devastating fire destroying much of the downtown area, leading to a period of rapid rebuilding.

14. In 1865, the Union Army briefly occupied Augusta during the final stages of the Civil War, but the city largely escaped major destruction.

15. The Richmond Academy, founded in 1783, is one of the oldest continuously operating schools in the United States.

16. In 1841, Saint Paul’s Church was built, becoming one of the most prominent places of worship in Augusta.

17. Augusta’s first cotton mill, the Augusta Factory, was established in 1847, making the city an important player in the cotton industry.

18. The Augusta Medical College became an important center for medical education in the South after its founding in 1829.

19. In 1878, Augusta became the first city in Georgia to install electric streetlights.

20. The Augusta Opera House, which opened in 1850, was a cultural center for the city and hosted performances by famous actors and musicians.

21. In 1790, George Washington visited Augusta as part of his Southern Tour, which helped establish goodwill between the federal government and the Southern states.

22. In 1822, a major flood of the Savannah River caused significant damage to Augusta, but the city quickly recovered.

23. In 1858, Augusta became home to the Sacred Heart Catholic Church, one of the oldest Catholic parishes in the state.

24. In 1876, Augusta installed its first public water system, making it one of the first Southern cities to have a modernized water infrastructure.

25. In 1863, the Confederate States Laboratory was established in Augusta, producing munitions and other war materials.

26. In 1791, Telfair Street, one of the city’s oldest streets, was laid out, becoming a major thoroughfare.

27. In 1877, Augusta hosted the first Georgia State Fair, attracting thousands of visitors and establishing the city as a cultural hub.

28. In 1852, the Augusta Library Association was formed, creating the foundation for the city’s first public library.

29. The Augusta Canal was widened in 1875, allowing for larger boats and increased industrial use.

30. In 1798, the state’s first female academy, the Richmond Female Seminary, was established in Augusta, providing education for young women.

31. In 1869, Augusta’s first gas company was formed, supplying the city with gas lighting for homes and streets.

32. In 1833, the Augusta Free School opened, offering education to children regardless of their financial background.

33. The Augusta Arsenal, after the Civil War, was repurposed to serve as a training facility for soldiers during the Spanish-American War.

34. In 1839, Augusta became the site of the first Georgia Medical Society conference, attracting medical professionals from across the state.

35. In 1801, Augusta’s first theater was built, providing entertainment for the city’s growing population.

36. The Augusta Cotton Exchange, founded in 1872, played a vital role in regulating the cotton trade, one of the city’s most important industries.

37. In 1855, Augusta hosted the first-ever Georgia Agricultural Convention, promoting the growth of the state’s farming industry.

38. In 1810, the Augusta Market House was built, serving as the central hub for trade and commerce in the city for much of the 19th century.

39. In 1879, the first horse-drawn streetcars began operating in Augusta, providing a new mode of transportation for residents.

40. The Augusta Female Asylum, established in 1803, provided care and education for orphaned girls throughout the 19th century.

41. In 1857, Augusta opened its first telegraph office, connecting the city to other major urban centers in the Southeast.

42. In 1829, the Augusta Fire Company was established, becoming one of the first organized fire departments in Georgia.

43. In 1875, Augusta became a hub for the Southern Cotton Mills, helping to establish the region’s textile industry.

44. The Augusta Iron Works, founded in 1846, played a key role in producing machinery and equipment for the city’s burgeoning industries.

45. In 1861, Augusta became a vital supply center for the Confederacy during the Civil War, housing munitions factories and military hospitals.

46. In 1878, the city built its first public park, May Park, providing green space for residents in the heart of downtown.

47. The Richmond County Courthouse, completed in 1820, served as the center of legal activity in Augusta for much of the 19th century.

48. In 1867, the Freedmen’s Bureau established offices in Augusta to assist formerly enslaved people in their transition to freedom.

49. In 1880, the Augusta National Cemetery was established as a resting place for soldiers, including many from the Civil War.

50. In 1807, Augusta’s first newspaper, the Georgia Gazette, began publication, marking the city’s rise as a center for news and information.

51. In 1888, the city installed its first telephone exchange, connecting Augusta to the rest of the region via telephone lines.

52. The Augusta Orphan Asylum, established in 1852, provided care and shelter for orphans in the city for much of the 19th century.

53. In 1835, Augusta became home to Georgia’s first botanical garden, which was used for both scientific research and public enjoyment.

54. In 1866, Augusta’s Ebenezer Baptist Church was founded, becoming one of the oldest African American congregations in the city.

55. The Augusta Golf Club, founded in 1898, was one of the first golf clubs in the South and paved the way for Augusta’s future as a golf destination.

56. In 1840, Augusta became one of the first cities in Georgia to install gas lighting in its streets and homes.

57. In 1864, during Sherman’s March to the Sea, Augusta narrowly avoided destruction as Union forces bypassed the city.

58. The Augusta National Cemetery, established in 1867, became the final resting place for soldiers from multiple conflicts, including the Civil War.

59. In 1895, Augusta became a key location for the Cotton States and International Exposition, which helped showcase Southern industry to the world.

60. In 1825, the Marquis de Lafayette visited Augusta during his famous tour of the United States, marking a major event for the city.

61. In 1802, the first public market was established in Augusta, allowing local farmers and merchants to sell their goods.

62. In 1886, Augusta established its first public school system, offering education to both white and African American children.

63. In 1843, the first steamboat arrived in Augusta, revolutionizing trade along the Savannah River.

64. In 1868, Augusta became home to Georgia’s first Black-owned bank, which played a key role in the post-Civil War economy.

65. In 1832, Augusta’s first public hospital was established, providing care to residents regardless of their financial situation.

66. In 1892, the first electric streetcar line in Augusta was introduced, modernizing the city’s transportation system.

67. In 1858, the Medical College of Georgia graduated its first class of students, becoming one of the most prominent medical institutions in the South.

68. In 1881, the Augusta Opera House was the site of Georgia’s first performance of grand opera, establishing the city’s cultural prominence.

69. In 1850, the Savannah River steamboat trade peaked, with Augusta serving as a major transportation hub for goods moving between Georgia and South Carolina.

70. In 1893, Augusta hosted its first Labor Day Parade, a significant event highlighting the growing labor movement in the city.

71. The First Presbyterian Church of Augusta, established in 1804, became one of the city’s most influential religious institutions.

72. In 1870, Augusta constructed its first public school building, marking a major step forward in education.

73. In 1865, the city’s economy began to recover quickly from the Civil War due to its status as a major center for Confederate munitions production.

74. In 1882, the first bridge made entirely of iron was constructed over the Savannah River, replacing the previous wooden bridge.

75. In 1867, Augusta’s Freedmen’s Savings Bank was established, offering financial services to newly freed African Americans.

76. In 1795, Augusta was briefly the capital of Georgia before the government moved to Louisville, and later to Milledgeville and Atlanta.

77. In 1888, the city established its first telephone lines, connecting Augusta to other major cities in Georgia and the surrounding region.

78. In 1872, the first black-owned businesses began to flourish on Broad Street, laying the foundation for African American entrepreneurship in the city.

79. The Augusta Brewery, established in 1885, was a major producer of beer in the region, helping to supply the rapidly growing population.

80. In 1849, the Savannah River flood devastated the city, leading to the construction of new levees and flood prevention measures.

81. In 1853, the first steam locomotive arrived in Augusta, connecting the city to Atlanta and further boosting trade.

82. The Augusta Academy, founded in 1783, later became Richmond Academy, and is still operational today as one of the oldest schools in Georgia.

83. In 1875, the first banking charter in Augusta was issued, allowing for the establishment of the Augusta Savings Bank.

84. In 1860, Telfair Street became the first street in Augusta to be paved, modernizing the downtown area for horse-drawn carriages.

85. The Bon Air Hotel, built in 1889, was one of the finest luxury hotels in the South, attracting tourists and visitors from across the country.

86. In 1871, Augusta became the first city in Georgia to offer streetcar service, providing efficient public transportation to its residents.

87. In 1864, Confederate General Joseph E. Johnston briefly used Augusta as his headquarters during the closing stages of the Civil War.

88. In 1891, the Augusta National Golf Club began construction on what would later become one of the world’s most famous golf courses.

89. In 1839, the Augusta Female Seminary opened, one of the first educational institutions for women in the state of Georgia.

90. In 1889, Sacred Heart Cultural Center, originally a Catholic church, was constructed and became an architectural gem of the city.

91. In 1859, Augusta’s first public library was established by the Library Society, marking a milestone in public education.

92. In 1873, Augusta became the first Southern city to construct a municipal water system, providing clean water to its residents.

93. In 1794, President George Washington visited Augusta during his Southern tour, boosting the city’s political and economic importance.

94. In 1898, the Georgia Iron Works in Augusta began producing the cast-iron pipes helping modernize the city’s infrastructure.

95. In 1879, Augusta became home to the first public hospital in the region, offering medical care to residents regardless of their financial status.

96. In 1842, the city’s first fire company, the Augusta Fire Department, was founded, providing much-needed fire protection for the growing urban area.

97. In 1895, Augusta’s streetcar system was electrified, marking the transition from horse-drawn to electric streetcars.

98. In 1878, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church hosted the first music festival in Augusta, featuring performances by musicians from across the state.

99. In 1826, the first steamboat service between Augusta and Savannah began, drastically improving the transport of goods and people.

100. In 1881, the first public gas lighting was installed in Augusta, illuminating the city’s streets and allowing businesses to operate after dark.