2009 Brown Bag History Series kicks off with Dave the Potter Author

The Museum will kick off the 2009 Brown Bag History Series on Wednesday, January 7, 2009 at 12:30 p.m. with Carolina Clay: The Life and Legend of the Slave Potter Dave, presented by Mr. Leonard Todd, author of the book by the same title.

While researching his family history, Todd discovered that one of the most famous slave artisans of the antebellum South had been owned by his family. He traveled from his home in Manhattan to South Carolina, where he sifted through records of slavery, rebellion, and war to uncover Dave's stirring story. Carolina Clay: The Life and Legend of Slave Potter Dave was published in October 2008 by W.W. Norton and was recently reviewed in the October 20, 2008 edition of Newsweek. His Brown Bag lecture will unveil the story of how he discovered his ties to Dave the Potter, the history of Dave's life, and the impact and significance his pottery had on antebellum art.

Todd is also the author of Squaring Off, a novel for young adults, published by Viking Penguin and optioned for a feature film. An earlier young adult novel, The Best Kept Secret of the War, was published by Alfred A. Knopf and optioned for a television special. Both books were set in areas of the South that Todd knew well when he was growing up. Other fiction publications include short stories in Cosmopolitan and elsewhere. An original screenplay, Honkytonk, was optioned for a movie musical.

His nonfiction publications include Trash Can Toys & Games, a recycling book for children, published by Viking Penguin. Prototypes of the toys he designed for the book were exhibited at the American Museum of Natural History in a long-running show. He has published articles in Travel & Leisure and other travel publications, has covered architecture in Mexico, oysters in Ireland, golf in Morocco, and beaches on Mykonos.

Todd graduated from Yale College and from the Yale School of Art and Architecture. He is a former Fulbright Scholar to France. He has been a resident at the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts and the Cité Internationale des Arts in Paris and now resides with his wife in Edgefield, South Carolina.

The Brown Bag History Series is an educational lecture series provided monthly by the Augusta Museum of History, and is an ideal lunch-time break for downtown professionals, retirees, and students. The lectures are free to members and $3 for non-members. Participants should bring a lunch and the Museum provides beverages and dessert. Refreshments are served beginning at 11:30 a.m.; the lecture runs from 12:30 – 1:00 p.m.

2008 Holiday Gingerbread Village Preview Party

Gingerbread House winners

The annual Holiday Gingerbread Village was a smashing success. The incredible gingerbread houses were on display November 21 - 30, 2008, and we've still had people calling asking that the display be extended through December in 2009!

The winners were as follows:

Chef Marvin Herrera, Executive Chef of the Augusta Country Club, won the People's Choice Award. Hundreds of patrons cast their votes for their favorite gingerbread house over a period of 10 days. This depiction of the Old Club House won People's Choice!

Most Artistic was won by Tereasa Lily of Tres Bon Catering for her creation of the Augusta National Golf Club.

Brigette Pedroza won Third Place for her precise recreation of the Appling Courthouse in Appling, GA.

Casey Igel of Augusta won Second Place for her depiction of the Church of the Good Shepherd:

And Jennifer Mooney of Midville won first place (the third year in a row!) for her depiction of Williams Antiques, located in Waynesboro, Georgia:

Check the Museum website in August 2009 for an application to participate in the 2009 Holiday Gingerbread Village and enter for your chance to win $1,000 Grand Prize!

It's time to spice the holidays!

The houses have been delivered - with candy cane columns, sunflower seed roofs, and rock crystal paths.. the Augusta Museum of History is spicing up the holidays with the annual Holiday Gingerbread Village! Museum staff worked hard today along with our amazing Decorating Committee of Julie Ann Boardman and Caroline Morris, and with the incredible artistic and floral talent of Mr. Greg Boulus of charleston street, to transform the Museum Rotunda into a wintery gingerbread village! We'll kick off the event tomorrow evening at the HGV Preview Party, where hundreds of guests will enjoy decadent food, yummy cocktails, jazz music, and much, much more

The judges will make their selections tomorrow at 10:00 am, and we look forward to seeing what sugary masterpiece they select to win the grand prize of $1,000 cash!

Be sure to come by between now and the Sunday following Thanksgiving (November 30) with your family and friends and make the Gingerbread Village a new part of your holiday traditions!

Sweet History

The annual Holiday Gingerbread Village is just around the corner!

Experience the enchantment of winter as you view architectural masterpieces made entirely of gingerbread! The annual Holiday Gingerbread Village is a gingerbread house competition featuring confectionary replicas of historic structures in the CSRA. Delight in the imagination shown in these sugar-and-spice creations created by some of the area’s most talented bakers.

The annual event begins with the Holiday Gingerbread Village Preview Party, the official kick off to Augusta's holiday social season. The party, on Thursday, November 20th at 7:00 at the Museum, includes an open bar, incredible food, silent auction of gingerbread houses, raffle, and musical entertainment. The don’t miss event of the year!

This year’s competition will include expanded judging categories and great prizes! Five awards will be handed out – Grand Prize, Second Place, Third Place, Most Artistic, and People’s Choice. Cash prizes will be awarded by guest judges, Mr. Anthony Fernandez, Executive Pastry Chef, Ritz-Carlton Lodge, Reynolds Plantation; Architect Mr. Al Cheatham; Historian Dr. Lee Ann Caldwell; and Local Artist, Ms. Kathy Engler as follows:

Grand Prize - $1,000 cash!
Second Place - $750
Third Place - $500
Most Artistic - $250
People’s Choice - $250

Friday, November 21 through Sunday, November 30, each historic-themed gingerbread house will be available through silent auction, with proceeds benefiting the programs of Augusta Museum of History. Bid on your chance to take one of these delectable masterpieces home during the Silent Auction. Strolling through the competition is a sure way to be swept up in the holiday spirit! And be sure to come by and cast your vote for People’s Choice! Free admission to view the display!

On Saturday, November 22 bring the entire family by the Museum for Gingerbread Family Fun Day, a day of crafts, tours, movies andthe opportunity for families to view the Gingerbread Village. Free with regular paid Museum admisison.

Presidential Campaigning Microexhibit now installed!

With what can be considered one of the most exciting elections in United States presidential history occurring today, the Augusta Museum of History is taking a look back at past presidential campaigns with a new exhibit, Campaigning for the Presidency, open now through February 1, 2009.

Every four years, Presidential hopefuls compete for the public’s vote by inundating the country with their image, name, slogans, and message. On campaign trails, on television, over the Internet and via radio and other outlets, each candidate tries to sway voters that they are the best choice. Signs are posted, buttons are worn, and bumper stickers on cars proclaim our candidate of choice. Presidential campaign memorabilia is as old as the office it promotes, but did not become widespread until the first half of the nineteenth century. The Museum’s exhibit explores Presidential politicking from a campaign perspective – from an early McKinely button to modern campaign paraphernalia, observe the diverse ways in which politicians have fought for America’s votes!

The campaign button has proven to be one of the most consistently used items in Presidential campaigns. The highly recognized political button may have gotten its start as coat buttons like the ones made to commemorate George Washington’s inauguration in 1789. Brass buttons engraved with “G.W. – Long Live the President”, adorned the coats of Washington’s supporters. Over time, campaign buttons have changed in style to reflect the culture and new technology of the period.

After the emergence of the popular vote selecting the Electoral College in the 1820s, the period through the 1840s saw the rapid development of slogans, images, flags, buttons, and other items like snuff boxes, ceramic plates, and sheet music, as presidential candidates began to gear their campaigns to capturing the interest of individual voters. This trend of influencing voters and showing support with eye-catching items and gimmicks continues through the modern era, with paraphernalia such as stuffed animals, bobble-heads, and of course, more buttons!
But it was not until the middle of the 19th century when all white men gained the right vote (extended to non-land owners), that political parties began to use memorabilia to “market” their candidates to the masses. William Henry Harrison, elected in 1840, is said to be the first candidate to actively campaign for president. Additionally, Harrison’s campaign created memorabilia designed for women, such as sewing boxes, in spite of the fact that females would not be given the right to vote for another eight decades!

Post World War II was the heyday of presidential memorabilia with the branding of “I like Ike” for President Dwight Eisenhower. Several items from “Ike’s” campaigns are on display at the Museum’s exhibit and make obvious the trend politics began to take halfway into the twentieth century – smart, witty, and repeated messages truly made presidential elections not just a political, but also social issue.

The social, yet political, trend continues with modern media today. Regardless if you wear a John McCain button or adorn your yard with Barack Obama signs, the purpose of campaigns remains the same – to be a part of it all.

Campaigning for the Presidency is open at the Augusta Museum of History now through February 1, 2009.

Artifacts on loan from the collection of Mr. and Mrs. Robert R. and Mary Gail Nesbit.

Here come the preschoolers! Story Time next week at the Museum

In celebration of the 20th annual Children’s Week, the East Central Georgia Regional Library, in conjunction with the Augusta Museum of History, will host local public figures, politicians, and media personalities as storytellers during Children’s Week Story Time, to be held Tuesday, October 7 through Thursday, October 9, 2008, at the Museum.

On Thursday, October 9, 2008 at 11:00 am, Story Time will be offered to the general public, marking the first time Story Time has been expanded to include area families with young children. Families with young children still at home are invited to reserve a space by calling the Museum at 706-722-8454. Space is Limited and reservations are required by October 7, 2008.
Each year the Augusta Partnership for Children, Inc. and several of its community partners join together to coordinate Children’s Week. Now in its 20th consecutive year, Children’s Week features a variety of events for children of all ages and their families. Children’s Week provides opportunities for parents and families to experience various resources in the community and, in addition, participate in fun and enriching activities for children.

Children’s Week Story Time, attended by local preschools and area families, will take place in the Augusta Museum of History’s exhibit, Augusta’s Story, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon each day. Each group will hear four stories during their story time hour.

Each child participating in Story Time will receive a book. Special thanks to Georgia Public Broadcasting for donating the books!

Bring your child to experience the art of storytelling and the joys of reading at Children's Story Time!

Free Admission to local Museums as the Westobou Festival takes over the city!

This Saturday, September 27, we are pleased to join with our friends and colleagues at museums and cultural attractions in the CSRA for the 4th Annual Museum Day presented by Smithsonian Magazine!

Admission to the Museum, the 1797 Ezekiel Harris House, Morris Museum of Art, Boyhood Home of President Woodrow Wilson, and Fort Discovery are FREE!! Just sign up online (microsite.smithsonianmag.com/museumday/admission.html) and experience our region's incredible cultural offerings!

A Westobou Festival endorsed event!

Museum wraps up successful start to Hands on History program!

This July, we began a new program series at the Augusta Museum of History - Hands on History, which allowed children to take a hands-on approach to history and learn about a specific theme within the Museum's collections. Each session focuses on a particular historical craft or activity which relates to our exhibitions and collections.

On July 30th, we held a Hands on History centered around Pottery. After viewing the Museum’s collection of pottery, including Edgefield pottery, face jugs, and a piece by famed freed slave potter, Dave, young visitors tried creating their own clay masterpiece. With the help of the Museum Education Department, children learned different ways of decorating pottery pieces (stab and jab, stamping, and other techniques) and learned both the coil and pinch pot techniques. It was amazing to see what these young creative artists were able to imagine and create!

We will continue Hands on History programs in the Fall and now have the option available for teachers to bring their class. Stay tuned for more hands-on programs to learn all about history in a creative and engaging way!

Museum film focuses on black Southern cinema

The following appeared in the August, 21, 2008 edition of The Augusta Chronicle:

"Museum film focuses on black Southern cinema"
Written by Nikasha Dicks
August 21, 2008

The theater at the Augusta Museum of History provides visitors with yet another window to the past.

"Our theater seats about 100 people, and it has a full screen like you would see in a movie theater," said Heather Sellers, the museum's education manager. "It's more engaging, especially for school groups, when you have a theaterlike atmosphere, and it's a good way for them to get specialized information."

Each month, a documentary film is shown in the theater. Past films have included Unchained Memories: Readings from the Slave Narratives; Cartoons Go to War; and The Rise of the Southern Biscuit. This month's film is on black Southern cinema. (read more...)

Girl Scouts: 2008 - 2009

Girl Scouts love History!

Our Scouting Program had tremendous success with it's initial unveiling in Early 2008, and we are so pleased to offer a full year of programming for Girl Scouts of Historic Georgia beginning in September 2008 and continuing through May 2009!!!

Explore the world of Museums, earn Try-Its, Badges, and Interest Projects and meet new friends at the Augusta Museum of History!

The Museum offers exciting and interactive weekend workshops for Brownie, Junior, Cadette, and Senior Girl Scouts to earn Try-Its, Badges, and Interest Projects. On scheduled Saturday mornings, from 9:00 - 12:00, girls will participate in activities to help them complete their Badge requirements (please remember that the Augusta Museum of History does not provide badges, but Particpation Patches are availble for purchase in the Museum Shop).

Minimum of 8 Scouts, Maximum of 30 Scouts. Chaperones are required (please follow Safety-wise guidelines)

All Badge Programs are $8 per Scout

FALL 2008 DATES

Brownie Girl Scout Day
Me and My Shadow Try-It
September 6, 2008
9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Brownie Girl Scouts will learn how much fun they can have with their shadow. The girls will create their own silhouette work of art, play shadow finger puppets and more!
$8 per Scout/ Free for Adults. Reservations are required by calling the Girl Scouts, Central Savannah River council office at (706) 774-0505.

Junior Girl Scout Day
Now and Then: Stories From Around the World
October 25, 2008

9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Junior Girl Scouts will explore myths and legends that have been passed down from generation to generation, from European fairy tales to Native American legends. These stories were meant to teach lessons, entertain, or explain natural phenomena. Create your own modern fairy tale and watch footage of an award winning Native American storyteller. $8 per Scout/ Free for Adults. Reservations are required by calling the Girl Scouts, Central Savannah River council office at (706) 774-0505.

Cadette/ Senior Girl Scout Day
Heritage Hunt Interest Project
November 8, 2008
9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Using the collections on view in the exhibit, Augusta’s Story, Cadettes and Seniors will explore the past in comparison to their lives today and earn their Heritage Hunt Interest Project. They will explore their own heritage and those of women who came before them by viewing historic documents and photos; experiencing past trades like weaving on a loom and churning butter; designing their own Family Trees; and comparing women’s lives in the past to their own today. $8 per Scout/ Free for Adults. Reservations are required by calling the Girl Scouts, Central Savannah River council office at (706) 774-0505.

SPRING 2009 DATES

Junior Girl Scout Day
Women’s Stories Badge
March 14, 2009
9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Celebrate Women’s History Month with the Augusta Museum of History. Junior Girl Scouts will look at women in the news and stories of female role models. Scouts will create a collage and their own women’s history game. $8 per Scout/ Free for Adults. Reservations are required by calling the Girl Scouts, Central Savannah River council office at (706) 774-0505.

Cadette/ Senior Girl Scout Day
Women Through Time Interest Project
March 21, 2009
9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Celebrate Women’s History Month with the Augusta Museum of History. Compare the lives and roles of woman in past decades to today using the Museum’s exhibit, Augusta’s Story and primary resources. Scouts will also learn a domestic art or craft practiced by women in the past that has been replaced by technology. $8 per Scout/ Free for Adults. Reservations are required by calling the Girl Scouts, Central Savannah River council office at (706) 774-0505

Junior Girl Scout Day
Folk Art Badge
April 25, 2009
9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Junior Girl Scouts will see a different side to the exhibit Augusta’s Story by learning about the arts and crafts of the past. Take a Scavenger Hunt through the Museum, play historic games and toys, enjoy story time, create your own family portrait after viewing the portraits in the Museum’s collection, and earn your own Folk Art Badge. $8 per Scout/ Free for Adults. Reservations are required by calling the Girl Scouts, Central Savannah River council office at (706) 774-0505.

Brownie Girl Scout Day
Through the Years Try-It
May 16, 2009
9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Brownie Girl Scouts will learn about fashion, films, song, and slang from different decades to earn their Through the Years Try-It. They will also have the opportunity to view the award-winning exhibit, Augusta’s Story. $8 per Scout/ Free for Adults. Reservations are required by calling the Girl Scouts, Central Savannah River council office at (706) 774-0505.

Interested in a different date?

Alternative Dates are Available By Appointment!
Through a collaboration with Girl Scouts, Central Savannah River Council to educate and excite girls about history, Brownie, Junior, Cadette and Senior Girl Scouts are invited to join the Augusta Museum of History for Scout Days to earn Try-Its, Badges, and Interest Projects. Programs are available by appointment. Minimum participation of 8 Scouts. Each participant will earn a badge at the end of the program. Contact Heather Sellers at the Augusta Museum of History at (706) 722-8454 or hsellers@augustamuseum.org for more information and to schedule.

Only $8 per shout! Plus admission is waived for the day for Scouts and chaparones to explore the Museum!

Call the Girl Scouts of Historic Georgia Council to register for Badge Days, space is limited, so register early!

Tours show public how museum operates

The following appeared in the July 31, 2008 edition of the Augusta Chronicle:

"Tours show public how museum operates"
Written by Chamain Z. Brackett
July 31, 2008

They would have been wonderful pieces in the Augusta Museum of History's collection, but the World War II Navy uniforms had been stored in an Augusta attic since the early 1950s, where humidity and moths had taken their toll.

Sean Todd, the registrar at the Augusta Museum of History, discusses an apple peeler at a behind-the-scenes museum tour. The program is offered on Saturdays through Sept. 27.
"We had to give them back," Sean Todd, the museum registrar, said during a behind-the-scenes tour of the museum Saturday.

The Augusta Museum of History has a new educational program. Preserving History: Behind the Scenes at the Augusta Museum of History will take visitors on a tour to the museum's processing laboratory, where artifacts are conserved and prepared for exhibits. "They will get to see the action that takes place behind the scenes at the museum every day but is generally closed to the public," said Sean Todd, the museum's registrar. "This is an opportunity for people to see the process." (read more...)

Save your $$$ and enjoy Dollar Dog Days of Summer!

It's hard to believe that summer is starting to come to an end, and before long school will start back up. We've had a very busy summer at the Augusta Museum of History, welcoming hundreds of children through summer programs and tours, had many Family Reunions pass through, opened From Ty to Cal with tremendous success, and much more!

But possibly one of the most exciting things to happen at the Museum this summer begins this Friday, August 1st. We are pleased to announce Dollar Dog Days of Summer! During the entire month of August, Museum admission is only $1 per person!

Director Nancy Glaser had the following to say about Dollar Dog Days: “We are thrilled to be able to offer the families and residents of the CSRA special reduced admission rates during the entire month of August. Discounted admission will ensure everyone in the community has the opportunity to visit their History Museum. We are grateful to be able to provide these rates during these economically challenging times.”

“By presenting Dollar Dog Days of Summer, the Augusta Museum of History is not only providing access to the Museum for individuals and families, but it also offers opportunities for the public to take advantage of the many programs the Museum has to offer, including specialized tours, children's activities, and other family-oriented programming”, Glaser continued.

What a wonderful opportunity for families to visit the Museum and soak up those last few days of summer together. Exhibitions on display during the month of August include The Godfather of Soul, Mr. James Brown, the first major exhibition celebrating the life and legacy of the renowned artist, and From Ty to Cal: A Century of Baseball in Augusta, tracing the history of professional baseball in Augusta over the past century. And of course admission also includes our award-winning permanent exhibition Augusta's Story; Stories & Legends: Remembering the Augusta National; The Susan Still Children's Discovery Gallery, and much more!

Visitors can also participate in some of our programs offered during August - Hunt for History, a self-guided journey through time for ages 4 – 13 and Preserving History: Behind the Scenes at the Augusta Museum of History, an education program for the general public which offers a guided tour and behind-the-scenes glimpse at the Museum world every Saturday at 1:00 and 2:00 pm. In addition, admission includes the film Movies of Color: Black Cinema in the South which will be playing in the charge. The film gives a portrait of independent African-American film making in the South prior to World War II.

And that's not all! Admission to the 1797 Ezekiel Harris House is also $1 per person and FREE for children under age 5 during the month of August. For more information on Dollar Dog Days or Museum programs, visit http://www.augustamuseum.org/ or call (706) 722-8454.

Deep into the dog days of summer, as the long hot days seem to melt into one, bring the whole family down for a fun, affordable, and enlightening look at Augusta’s rich past!

Museum in Augusta Chronicle today

The following appeared in the July 24, 2008 edition of the Augusta Chronicle:

"Tours show public how museum operates"
Written by Nikasha Dicks
July 24, 2008

The Augusta Museum of History has a new educational program.

Preserving History: Behind the Scenes at the Augusta Museum of History will take visitors on a tour to the museum's processing laboratory, where artifacts are conserved and prepared for exhibits.

"They will get to see the action that takes place behind the scenes at the museum every day but is generally closed to the public," said Sean Todd, the museum's registrar. "This is an opportunity for people to see the process." (read more...)

New Program shares the behind-the-scenes world of Museums with General Public

We are pleased to announce that through a grant received from the Georgia Humanities Council, we are able to unveil what is ‘behind-the-scenes’ in a new education program for the general public – Preserving History: Behind the Scenes at the Augusta Museum of History.

Beginning Saturday, July 12, 2008 and running every Saturday through September, Museum staff escort visitors in the collection preparation area, giving the public the opportunity to see the Museum’s Processing Laboratory where artifact conservation and preparation occurs. The Museum’s Registrar demonstrates how the Museum collects, catalogs, preserves, studies, cares for, and displays artifacts and archival collections.

Just as Registrar Sean Todd said, “Everybody remembers the thrill they had when they explored their grandparents’ attic. This is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to learn about the Museum’s collection, explore the Museum’s processing room, and to experience our collective past.” It certainly is a wonderful opportunity for Museum visitors and members to see a side to Museum life normally not shared with visitors.

The Augusta Museum of History is the steward of a broad and diverse range of artifacts, representing many aspects of the rich history of the CSRA. The goal of this hour-long presentation is to show visitors how historically important objects reach the Museum and how they are evaluated, cleaned, and stored. All of the relevant considerations, such as infestation, temperature and relative humidity levels, light levels, and composition of storage materials will be explained. The visitor will understand how these processes are central to the Museum’s broader mission of the preservation and interpretation of history.

Beginning July 12, 2008, the tours will be held at 1:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. every Saturday through September. Space is limited to fifteen participants per session and participation is on a first come, first serve basis. Groups are encouraged to contact the Museum at (706) 722-8454 regarding availability.

Preserving History is open to the general public and FREE with the cost of regular admission.

Preserving History: Behind the Scenes at the Augusta Museum of History is supported by the Georgia Humanities Council and the National Endowment for the Humanities and through appropriations from the Georgia General Assembly.

Hands-on Children's Program Continues this Summer

Looking for a creative activity for your children this summer? The Museum continues it's exciting new children’s programming series, Hands on History. Hands on History allows participants to take a hands-on approach to history, with each session focusing on a particular historical craft or activity relating to the Museum’s collections and exhibitions. Led by our Education Department staff and volunteers, each session also includes a gallery talk.

The next Hands on History is Wednesday, July 30th, 10:30 am - 12:00 pm and will focus on Pottery. Participants will view the Museum's collection of regional pottery, including face jugs, Edgefield pottery and pieces by Dave the Potter, then can try their hand at creating their own clay masterpiece using the pinch pot or coil technique!

$6 for Children, $4 for Adults. Fees include all supplies. To reserve your space, call (706) 722-8454. Maximum of twenty children per session. Good for ages six and up.

Baseball Exhibit hits a home run

America's favorite pastime was celebrated this Fourth of July as the Museum unveiled its newest exhibit - From Ty to Cal: A Century of Baseball in Augusta.

From Ty to Cal traces the history of professional baseball in Augusta over the past century, during which the city of Augusta has hosted over a dozen baseball teams, many of which have brought championship titles to The Garden City. Visitors may be surprised at the rich and venerable history of baseball in Augusta. From the 1885 Augusta Browns, the first organized team in Augusta, to the present-day GreenJackets, Augusta has had a long-standing tradition of great minor league teams.

We were honored to have Mr. Lou Brissie, former Major League pitcher for Philadelphia Athletics and the Cleveland Indians, attend the exhibition Preview Party on July 3rd (see photo at left). Mr. Brissie was kind enough to share some of his fondest memories of life in the Major Leagues with Museum members attending the preview and the local media. Mr. Brissie began his professional career with the Philadelphia Athletics, but put it on hold after enlisting with the U.S. Army. Tow years after a major injury received in Italy, upon which he was cited the Purple Heart, Bronze Star, ETO, and American Campaign Medals, Brissie was able to return to the game (23 major operations and one metal plate in his leg later) and continued his pitching career with the As and the Indians.

The exhibition highlights the teams that gave rise to various stars of the major leagues with Augusta connections, and features such prominent personalities as the legendary Ty Cobb, revered as one of the greatest hitters of all time and bearer of the all-time greatest hitting record, to Lou Brissie, Phil Cockrell (a star pitcher in the Negro League), Dooley Womack (former Augusta and New York Yankees pitcher), Moises Alou (former Augusta Pirates outfielder), Billy Johnson (the 1943 Rookie of the Year for the New York Yankees), and most recently, Dustin Pedroia, a former Augusta GreenJackets player, current Second baseman for the Boston Red Sox, and 2007 American League Rookie of the Year and Jonathan Broxton, a star player from Burke County High School and current pitcher for the LA Dodgers.

Through images and artifacts, including baseballs, uniforms, game-used equipment, as well as rare memorabilia, including baseball cards, programs, and promotional items, the exhibit showcases the vivid stories and exciting moments from the last century of baseball in Augusta and illustrates the important role baseball has played in this city’s history.

One exemplary item on display is an authentic 1909-11 T206 Portrait Red Back baseball card of Ty Cobb, a rare piece of baseball memorabilia.

From Ty to Cal: A Century of Baseball in Augusta opened July 4, 2008 to the general public. Museum hours are 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Tuesday – Saturday and 1:00 – 5:00 p.m. on Sunday. Admission is $4 for Adults, $3 for Seniors, $2 for Children, and Free for Children under Age 5 and Museum Members. For more information, please contact the Museum at (706) 722-8454 or visit http://www.augustamuseum.org/.

Baseball's timeless appeal has enraptured its fans for more than 150 years, but there is something particular about baseball that enlivens the senses. Baseball fans are enthralled by the nostalgia, sound of the familiar crack of a bat hitting, true grit of the game, and of course, getting home safely.

A new place for History

Welcome!!

Founded in 1937, The Augusta Museum of History is Augusta’s oldest historical agency devoted to collecting, preserving and interpreting history in relation to the past of Augusta and Central Savannah River region for the education and enrichment of present and future generations.

For over seventy years, the Museum has lived out its dual purpose of preservation and education, serving the children, families, and tourists of the Central Savannah River Area, educating and enriching each of our lives.

Stay up-to-date for information on upcoming exhibitions and events, join us for as we work to expand our exceptional family and public programming, and help share the rich history of the CSRA - as we continue to preserve our past for our future!