Augusta Canal NHA

Little Guide Augusta • Experience Local • Pg. 81

The Story

Long before Augusta grew into the river city it is today, the Augusta Canal was shaping its direction. Today, the Augusta Canal National Heritage Area preserves that history while keeping the waterway active and accessible. Built in 1845 to harness the Savannah River, the canal powered early industry and remains the only industrial power canal still operating for its original purpose.

The towpath once traveled by mules pulling cargo boats now welcomes walkers and cyclists throughout the year. Kayaks and canoes pass textile mills, the Confederate Powder Works and some of Georgia’s oldest homes. Visitors can board a Petersburg boat, where a captain shares stories of hauling cotton to the mills and daily life along the canal. Wildlife lines the banks, from herons to otters and the occasional alligator. Inside Enterprise Mill, the Augusta Canal Discovery Center explains how this waterway shaped the city and its early industry. The canal remains a place where Augusta’s past and present meet.