The Augusta Museum of History covers twelve thousand years in one building, from the Native American cultures that lived along the Savannah River to the colonial settlement, the Civil War, and the city's 20th-century life. The permanent collection is well curated and moves at a reasonable pace.
The centrepiece for many visitors is the James Brown exhibit. Brown grew up in Augusta and got his start performing in the city before becoming one of the most influential musicians in American history. The exhibit holds stage costumes, instruments, gold records, and personal effects, alongside the broader story of Black Augusta and the civil rights era.
Other highlights include the Augusta Canal section, a full-scale 1800s street reconstruction, and artefacts from the Augusta Futurity golf tournament. The museum is on Riverwalk at the corner of Sixth Street, easy to combine with a walk along the river.