Augusta is Georgia’s second-largest city and the home of one of the most famous private golf clubs in the world. The Masters Tournament at Augusta National draws international attention every April, but the city’s depth runs considerably further: a working 19th-century canal with 7 miles of trail, a vaulted Catholic cathedral turned cultural center, and the childhood home of a US president. These 10 attractions cover Augusta’s full range — from the famous golf club entrance to a 1,100-acre urban swamp.
Jump to: Augusta National & Riverwalk · Historic Downtown · Augusta Canal & Outdoors · History Museums
Augusta National & Riverwalk
Augusta National Golf Club
Richmond County · Augusta · Free (exterior)
One of the most famous private golf clubs in the world, founded in 1933 by Bobby Jones and Clifford Roberts on the site of a former plant nursery. The course was designed by Alister MacKenzie. The Masters Tournament has been held here every April since 1934 — the only major golf tournament played at the same course each year. The club is not open to the public. The entrance gate and the magnolia-lined Magnolia Lane are visible from Washington Road (2604 Washington Rd) year-round. Masters tickets are allocated by lottery only.
Riverwalk Augusta
Richmond County · Augusta · Free
A 10-block levee park along the Savannah River in downtown Augusta, with views across the water to North Augusta, South Carolina. The park includes an outdoor amphitheater, picnic areas, and the Jessye Norman Amphitheater (named for the Augusta-born opera singer). The Augusta-Richmond County Museum complex sits adjacent. Walking distance from Broad Street and the canal entrance. Free, open daily.
Historic Downtown
Broad Street Historic District
Richmond County · Augusta · Free
The main commercial corridor of historic downtown Augusta — a wide boulevard lined with 19th and early 20th-century commercial buildings from 7th Street to 13th Street. James Brown’s statue stands at Broad and 9th Street. The district has restaurants, independent retailers, and galleries alongside the historic storefronts. A short walk connects Broad Street to both the Riverwalk (north) and the canal district (southwest). Free to walk.
Sacred Heart Cultural Center
Richmond County · Augusta · Free / Event admission
A former Roman Catholic church (1900) on Greene Street, now a cultural event and wedding venue. Gothic Revival exterior with Romanesque interior elements — the nave has 86-foot vaulted ceilings and some of the finest stained glass in Georgia. The twin towers are visible from much of downtown Augusta. Open for self-guided tours during daytime hours; call ahead to confirm access as the building closes for private events. One of the most architecturally significant interiors in the state.
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church
Richmond County · Augusta · Free
The mother church of the Episcopal Diocese of Georgia, with a congregation dating to 1750 — one of the oldest in the state. The current stone building dates to 1919. Located adjacent to the Augusta Canal Discovery Center and the St. Paul’s Historic District. The churchyard contains markers for prominent Augusta families from the 18th century onward. Free to enter during services; exterior and grounds accessible daily.
Augusta Canal & Outdoors
Augusta Canal National Heritage Area
Richmond County · Augusta · Free (towpath) / Paid (boat tours)
A 7-mile canal built in 1845 to power textile mills and transport goods — one of the best-preserved 19th-century industrial canals in the US, still carrying functional water. The towpath is an 8-mile paved trail for walking, running, and cycling. Canal boat tours depart from the Augusta Canal Discovery Center inside the historic Enterprise Mill at 1450 Greene Street — the same mill the canal powered for 150 years. The Heritage Area covers three levels of the original canal system. Towpath free; boat tours paid.
Savannah Rapids Pavilion Park
Richmond County · Augusta · Free
A Columbia County park at the head of the Augusta Canal where the canal intake meets the Savannah River, about 10 miles northwest of downtown Augusta. Class 3 rapids on the river are visible from the overlook trails. Good fishing access, walking trails, and picnic areas. The park marks the historic head of navigation on the Savannah River — boats coming upriver would unload here for overland or canal portage. Free entry.
Phinizy Swamp Nature Park
Richmond County · Augusta · Free
A 1,100-acre urban wetlands in south Augusta with 8 miles of boardwalk and natural surface trails through bottomland hardwood forest and open marsh. The Phinizy Center for Water Sciences operates on the property and uses it for environmental research. Strong bird-watching destination — over 160 species documented. An unexpected green space in an industrial section of the city. Free, open daily 7am to dusk.
History Museums
Augusta Museum of History
Richmond County · Augusta · Paid admission
A regional history museum at 560 Reynolds Street covering 12,000 years of Augusta-area history — from Paleo-Indian habitation through the city’s role in the American Revolution, Civil War, and industrial canal era. Permanent exhibitions include a full-scale cotton gin replica, a railroad exhibit, and a notable James Brown collection covering the Augusta-born soul musician’s career and cultural impact. Paid admission.
Boyhood Home of President Woodrow Wilson
Richmond County · Augusta · Paid admission
The house at 419 Seventh Street where Woodrow Wilson (28th president of the United States) lived from ages 2 to 14, from 1858 to 1870, while his father served as pastor of First Presbyterian Church. One of only a handful of US presidential childhood homes open to the public. The interior is restored to its 1860s appearance with period furnishings. Guided tours walk through the family rooms with commentary on Wilson’s early life in Augusta. Paid admission; tours on a schedule.
Planning Notes
Getting there: Augusta is 150 miles east of Atlanta on I-20 — about 2.5 hours. From Savannah, it’s 130 miles northwest on I-16 and I-20.
Masters week: The first full week of April sees Augusta transform. Hotel rooms within 50 miles book a year in advance at several times normal rates. If you’re not attending the tournament, visit before or after that week.
Canal timing: The towpath is best walked or cycled in the morning before afternoon heat in summer. The Discovery Center boat tours run on a schedule — check ahead. The canal is accessible year-round.