Augusta Canal
Encyclopedia
The Augusta Canal is a historic canal
located in Augusta, Georgia
. The canal connects two points of the Savannah River. It was devised to harness the power of the fall line
of the Savannah River
for mills, to provide transportation of goods, and to provide drinking water for the city. It is the only canal in the world still used for its original purpose of providing power to textile mills.
canals in the American South. During the time of construction, the canal was headed by Henry Cumming and was designed by J. Edgar Thomson. In 1847, the first factories started, a saw and grist mill and the Enterprise Mill
, were built. It would be one of many factories that would be built along the Augusta Canal.
By the time of the Civil War
, Augusta was one of the few manufacturing centers in the South. The power afforded there led Confederate
Col. George W. Rains to select Augusta as the location for the Confederate Powderworks
. The twenty-eight buildings, which were the only ones constructed by the government of the Confederate States of America
, stretched for two miles along the Augusta Canal. Other war industries started to establish along the canal making Augusta an important center for materiel
.
Unlike most Southern cities after Sherman's march through the South
, Augusta ended the war in better condition. The population had doubled and hard currency was available to fiance recovery. The canal was enlarged in 1875.
A boom era saw the construction of the Enterprise Mill, King Mill, and Sibley Mill
, the Lombard Ironworks and may others opened or expanded. Many people who lived on farms moved to the city to work at the mills, inclucing women and children. The factories led to the rise of mill villages in their precincts.
In the 1890s, the city replaced its old water pumping station with impressive structure at mid-canal that is still used by the city of Augusta today. As the electric age began to dawn, Augusta began to turn the canal's falling water power to drive the first generation equipment. By 1892, Augusta boasted both electric streetcars and street lights — the first Southern city to have these amenities.
By the mid-twentieth century, the canal came into a period of neglect. Textile
factories began to close and the city's industrial activity began to shift south of the city. At one point in the 1960s, city officials considered draining the canal to build a superhighway.
Flickers of interest in reviving the Augusta Canal began appearing in the 1970s. A state park was proposed, but never materialized. In 1989, the state legislature created the Augusta Canal Authority, the body that has jurisdiction over the canal today.
in 1977. It was also named a National Heritage Area by Congress in 1998, the first designated Nation Heritage Area in Georgia
.
have been converted to upscale offices and loft apartments. New projects, such as the Kroc Center
, Harrisburg Canal Village, and Augusta Canal Park are proposed or under construction.
is also site of the Augusta Canal National Heritage Area Interpretive Center, an interactive museum which details how the canal was built and how it works, hydroelectricity
, the history of the mills along the canal and the life of mill workers, and the 20th century decline of the mills and the effects on the canal. Boat tours of the Canal start from the Interpretive Center.
Canal
Canals are man-made channels for water. There are two types of canal:#Waterways: navigable transportation canals used for carrying ships and boats shipping goods and conveying people, further subdivided into two kinds:...
located in Augusta, Georgia
Augusta, Georgia
Augusta is a consolidated city in the U.S. state of Georgia, located along the Savannah River. As of the 2010 census, the Augusta–Richmond County population was 195,844 not counting the unconsolidated cities of Hephzibah and Blythe.Augusta is the principal city of the Augusta-Richmond County...
. The canal connects two points of the Savannah River. It was devised to harness the power of the fall line
Fall line
A fall line is a geomorphologic unconformity between an upland region of relatively hard crystalline basement rock and a coastal plain of softer sedimentary rock. A fall line is typically prominent when crossed by a river, for there will often be rapids or waterfalls...
of the Savannah River
Savannah River
The Savannah River is a major river in the southeastern United States, forming most of the border between the states of South Carolina and Georgia. Two tributaries of the Savannah, the Tugaloo River and the Chattooga River, form the northernmost part of the border...
for mills, to provide transportation of goods, and to provide drinking water for the city. It is the only canal in the world still used for its original purpose of providing power to textile mills.
19th Century
The Augusta Canal was chartered in 1845 and completed in 1847, as a source of water, power and transportation for the city of Augusta. It was one of the few successful industrialIndustry
Industry refers to the production of an economic good or service within an economy.-Industrial sectors:There are four key industrial economic sectors: the primary sector, largely raw material extraction industries such as mining and farming; the secondary sector, involving refining, construction,...
canals in the American South. During the time of construction, the canal was headed by Henry Cumming and was designed by J. Edgar Thomson. In 1847, the first factories started, a saw and grist mill and the Enterprise Mill
Enterprise Mill
The Enterprise Mill is a historical residential and office complex along the Augusta Canal in Augusta, Georgia. Enterprise is located at the corner of Greene Street and 15th Street.-Revitalization:...
, were built. It would be one of many factories that would be built along the Augusta Canal.
By the time of the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, Augusta was one of the few manufacturing centers in the South. The power afforded there led Confederate
Confederate States Army
The Confederate States Army was the army of the Confederate States of America while the Confederacy existed during the American Civil War. On February 8, 1861, delegates from the seven Deep South states which had already declared their secession from the United States of America adopted the...
Col. George W. Rains to select Augusta as the location for the Confederate Powderworks
Confederate Powderworks
The Confederate Powderworks was a gunpowder factory during the American Civil War, the only permanent structures completed by the Confederate States of America. Colonel G.W...
. The twenty-eight buildings, which were the only ones constructed by the government of the Confederate States of America
Confederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
, stretched for two miles along the Augusta Canal. Other war industries started to establish along the canal making Augusta an important center for materiel
Materiel
Materiel is a term used in English to refer to the equipment and supplies in military and commercial supply chain management....
.
Unlike most Southern cities after Sherman's march through the South
Sherman's March to the Sea
Sherman's March to the Sea is the name commonly given to the Savannah Campaign conducted around Georgia from November 15, 1864 to December 21, 1864 by Maj. Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman of the Union Army in the American Civil War...
, Augusta ended the war in better condition. The population had doubled and hard currency was available to fiance recovery. The canal was enlarged in 1875.
A boom era saw the construction of the Enterprise Mill, King Mill, and Sibley Mill
Sibley Mill
The Sibley Mill is a historic building located on the Augusta Canal at 1717 Goodrich Street near downtown Augusta, Georgia. Designed by Jones S. Davis, it was built on a site previously occupied by the Confederate Powderworks, and was completed in 1882...
, the Lombard Ironworks and may others opened or expanded. Many people who lived on farms moved to the city to work at the mills, inclucing women and children. The factories led to the rise of mill villages in their precincts.
In the 1890s, the city replaced its old water pumping station with impressive structure at mid-canal that is still used by the city of Augusta today. As the electric age began to dawn, Augusta began to turn the canal's falling water power to drive the first generation equipment. By 1892, Augusta boasted both electric streetcars and street lights — the first Southern city to have these amenities.
20th Century
Flooding became a big problem in Augusta during the early 20th century. Following major floods in the 1920s and 1930s, the Federal Works Progress Administration deployed hundreds of workers to make repairs and improvements, build a new spillway and to straighten the canal.By the mid-twentieth century, the canal came into a period of neglect. Textile
Textile
A textile or cloth is a flexible woven material consisting of a network of natural or artificial fibres often referred to as thread or yarn. Yarn is produced by spinning raw fibres of wool, flax, cotton, or other material to produce long strands...
factories began to close and the city's industrial activity began to shift south of the city. At one point in the 1960s, city officials considered draining the canal to build a superhighway.
Flickers of interest in reviving the Augusta Canal began appearing in the 1970s. A state park was proposed, but never materialized. In 1989, the state legislature created the Augusta Canal Authority, the body that has jurisdiction over the canal today.
National Historic Landmark
The canal is part of the Historic Augusta Canal and Industrial District, which was named a National Historic LandmarkNational Historic Landmark
A National Historic Landmark is a building, site, structure, object, or district, that is officially recognized by the United States government for its historical significance...
in 1977. It was also named a National Heritage Area by Congress in 1998, the first designated Nation Heritage Area in Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
.
Today
The Augusta Canal is the main source of drinking water in Augusta and is a centerpiece of the city. The seven mile long towpath forms a backbone for a recreational trail system. It also has been a center of redevelopment. Textile mills such as the Enterprise MillEnterprise Mill
The Enterprise Mill is a historical residential and office complex along the Augusta Canal in Augusta, Georgia. Enterprise is located at the corner of Greene Street and 15th Street.-Revitalization:...
have been converted to upscale offices and loft apartments. New projects, such as the Kroc Center
Kroc Center
A Kroc Center is one of many community centers run by the Salvation Army.-Ray and Joan Kroc Corps Community Centers:...
, Harrisburg Canal Village, and Augusta Canal Park are proposed or under construction.
Augusta Canal National Heritage Area Interpretive Center
Enterprise Mill in AugustaAugusta, Georgia
Augusta is a consolidated city in the U.S. state of Georgia, located along the Savannah River. As of the 2010 census, the Augusta–Richmond County population was 195,844 not counting the unconsolidated cities of Hephzibah and Blythe.Augusta is the principal city of the Augusta-Richmond County...
is also site of the Augusta Canal National Heritage Area Interpretive Center, an interactive museum which details how the canal was built and how it works, hydroelectricity
Hydroelectricity
Hydroelectricity is the term referring to electricity generated by hydropower; the production of electrical power through the use of the gravitational force of falling or flowing water. It is the most widely used form of renewable energy...
, the history of the mills along the canal and the life of mill workers, and the 20th century decline of the mills and the effects on the canal. Boat tours of the Canal start from the Interpretive Center.
See also
- Butt Memorial BridgeButt Memorial BridgeThe Butt Memorial Bridge is a road bridge in Augusta, Georgia dedicated to Major Archibald Willingham Butt, a victim of the sinking of the RMS Titanic. The bridge was erected in 1914 and dedicated by President William Howard Taft, a personal friend of Butt's...
— carries Fifteenth Street over the Augusta Canal - History of Augusta, GeorgiaHistory of Augusta, GeorgiaAugusta, Georgia was founded in 1735 as part of the British colony of Georgia, under the supervision of colony founder James Oglethorpe. It was the colony's second established town, after Savannah...
External links
- Official website
- Augusta Canal National Heritage Area Interpretive Center
- National Park Service "Discover Our Shared Heritage" travel itinerary
- Out There Somewhere - Augusta Canal App, George Eskola, WIBF, News Channel 6, ABC, October 8, 2010