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Augusta Canal Discovery Center

Augusta Canal Discovery Center

Augusta Canal Discovery Center
4.5
Speciality MuseumsHistory Museums
9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
About
Guided canal boat tours depart daily from the Augusta Canal Discovery Center, an interactive interpretive museum that tells the history of Augusta's 1845 canal and industrial revolution in the American South. Housed in a 19th century cotton mill. Gift shop on site.
Duration: 1-2 hours
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4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles295 reviews
Excellent
186
Very good
91
Average
13
Poor
4
Terrible
1

cheryl h
Durham, NC57,947 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2020
The best part about the museum portion was the historic textile mill building it was in. When we were visiting there were no exhibits on display because areas were closed. Very disappointing. I was looking forward to learning the history of the industrial revolution in the south. If you are interested in a boat tour along the canal in a replica of a canal cargo boat, you get your tickets in this building. The tour boat wasn't even running when we were there.

I did really enjoy the scenic walk along the pathways/trails along the canal (built in 1845). They offer 4 main trails, 5 side trails and a trail along the towpath that the mules used to pull the boat. You can canoe and kayak from designated access points. Fishing is also allowed.

You may even see beavers, deer, fox, birds, turtles, gators, ducks, crawfish, frogs, muskrats, and more along your walk. I don't recommend using your GPS to get there, however. We were following ours and it stopped and showed us we had to cross (swim maybe?) the river where there was no road or bridge.
Written 26 September 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

darkwriter1
Leesville, SC44 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2020
A Great experience, a informative way to spend your time. A museum which tells how water makes the power to run a mill, now runs the museum and other businesses in the area. It gives a history of the area, the mills in the area, and the canal. To go even further, there's a boat tour of the canal as well, giving information on the area, the canal, and the nature which survives there. It's well worth the time and the staff there are really nice.
Written 31 October 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Kate Yeargain
Evans, GA130 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2020
I personally love museums, and as a local to the Augusta area, I was shocked to find out I'd never been here before. If you love museums and history, you'll have a great time here. The exhibits are comparable to much larger and more popular museums, so you won't be disappointed. It was a lot more up-to-date than I would have expected, and I learned so many things about the history of my city!
Written 29 November 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

ss3170424
Augusta, GA10 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2022
Surprisingly a wealth of facts, figures, and hands on demonstrations of what the factories did and what life was like working in them during their time. Excellent presentation very many models to understand the whys and the hows of the canal being built for the factories. Also viewed the three actual 1920 electrical generators which are still providing electricity to the building and the vicinity.

Also took the canal boat ride which was excellently narrated with reference to the civil war times. They also have musical canal boat tour which we are looking forward to participating in. The boat was an electrically driven Petersburg 65 foot boat which was very comfortable.

For the price of admission and the boat ride, the price was fair and the people were very nice. We are taking our relatives down when they visit and I am sure they will enjoy it.
Written 1 May 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Jek
8 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2023 • Family
The discovery center has great history about the area and the textile industry. They have interactive components to the exhibits (buttons to push) that kids will like. There is a short movie, too. Take the boat canal tour. It’s a beautiful area. We sent about an hour and a half including the tour.
Written 31 May 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

rhaltn56
Murfreesboro, TN245 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2022
Took a canal boat tour and the scenery was very good, saw various wildlife and guide and boat captain were very nice and informative of the area, They kept your attention the entire time. Las for about a hour and then you can look inside and out or prior to boat trip. Staff was very nice and helpful. Very enjoyable
Written 21 May 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Jennifer G
11 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2024 • Family
I love museums, and try to visit at least one history museum wherever I travel.
Honestly, this museum in Augusta is one of the finest I've ever visited. It is so extensive in its coverage of Georgia's history, and its relics, I believe anyone desiring to know more of the history of the U.S. South would benefit from a visit. We spent 2.5 hours downstairs, and a quick half hour upstairs since we were all hungry. The exhibit on Dyess was a favorite of our children, as well as the actual trolly, train cars that visitors could sit in. I was amazed by the nearly 1000 pound cotton bale on exhibit weighed by a traditional cotton scale. I have already recommended this museum to locals who had not visited, and now to you! Go! Learn! Enjoy!
Written 1 July 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Naomie
Augusta, GA9 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2020
You NEED to go on a boat tour here and walk through the museum. There are so many new things to learn about canals in the US, and how Augusta utilized the canal throughout the years - even until today. It's such an immersive, fun experience. You get a good mix of learning in the museum and the outdoors during the tour. You might just see a few cute little turtles and maybe some birds!
Written 21 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Daniel
Augusta, GA12 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2019
This is a great and simple way to spend an afternoon, just enjoying the outdoors. The canal rides, with their expert guides, are a wonderful time. Definitely check this out if you're visiting or live in Augusta. It's worth your time if you love the outdoors and are interested in the history of the area.
Written 19 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Tom V
Augusta, GA203 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2020
We walked through the Discovery Center while we were waiting to go on the canal boat tour. We watched the movie before the boat tour and I'm glad we did. The walk through history about the mill and the canal was also worth taking the time to do. The boat ride was informational and historical. We enjoyed the whole experience.
Written 8 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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AUGUSTA CANAL DISCOVERY CENTER (2024) All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

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