Augusta Canal Discovery Center Reviews

I live here- I was born and raised about 1/2 a mile from our canal. I had wanted to check out the boat tours, just for the fun of it, since we're not allowed to use the canal really for fun. My MIL and her BF came to town from Wisconsin, and although it was a chilly day for early May, we decided to go check out some local history. I was worried this might be an overly touristy activity, but was very pleasantly surprised, they’ve just done a wonderful job recreating the storyline of how our Canal was built and explaining some local history. I am going to go again on a Summer evening on one of their Friday night wine cruises with Music! Great fun and would really be a romantic way to spend and evening in Augusta.

Great to learn about the industrial history of the city of Augusta. The displays are very well done. Be sure to include a boat ride on the canal

I love history and this fits. I am impressed how they took an old useless mega complex and turned it into something nice and useful.

We just happened too be in the area & decided to stop by at the last minute. It was well worth the 2 hours we stayed there four the boat ride and the museum. The museum centers around the history of the old cotton industry. The boat tour we took was centered around the Civil War history. They ride about 30 minutes up the canal and back. If three weather was any hotter, it would not be as pleasant. The tour cost $14 each adult. There are discounts for seniors over 60 & kids.

Anyone with an interest in history or nature will enjoy this attraction. The intrepretive center gives a great overview of the Augusta Canal, one of the country's unique historic waterways. You'll learn about the cotton industry and textile mills and historic architecture. Do take the boat trip up the canal where you'll have great views of the historic mills and wildlife along the waterway. Expect to see plenty of turtles and waterfowl and wonderful scenery.

My husband and I took a Moonlight Music Cruise on a Friday night and it was perfect! You can bring your own food and drinks (yes, even adult beverages) on the boat so we brought a light dinner and a bottle of wine. Since it was an early evening cruise, the weather had cooled off enough to be comfortable. The live music made the entire cruise fun and the sunset was the cherry on top. Each week there's a different style of music, but when we went it was really blues-y. I would HIGHLY recommend this to couples or groups of friends. Also, a bit of advice, go to the bathroom before the cruise because there are no restrooms on the boat.

Housed in an 19th century textile mill with an impressive neon sign on the banks of the Augusta Canal, the Augusta Canal Interpretative Center provides a very well done history of the Augusta Canal, its impact on the Augusta area, and how it related to overall industrial development in the eastern United States. Filled with artifacts and professional exhibits, the museum includes a 10 minute film and examines the physical civil works as well as the industrial uses of the canal and just as importantly how society was impacted by the canal; including the transition of rural families to city jobs and labor/management issues. Two working hydroelectric generators are visible as well as the 8’ diameter discharge penstock back to the Savannah River; a computer screen displays the current status of the generators. Industrial boilers and hydro turbines are displayed outside the museum. Those that are interested in industrial history will particularly enjoy this museum. Reading all the displays will take about 2 hours. The canal tours on replica Petersburg boats leave from the canal center and are quite enjoyable and educational as well.

Surpringly, similar history to Lowell MA. Nice tour on an electric boat powered with electricity produced on site from the water in the Canal. Highly recommended.

There is a very interesting museum that provides excellent insights into the early development of the city, the development of the cotton mill industry, and a good perspective on the lives of those working in the early mills. The boat tour of the canal that provided the water to power the mill is very enjoyable and informative. Very worthwhile for history buffs and a relaxing, informative experience. Highly recommended.

This museum that caters to school children and foreigners a well as national tourists features a narrated recording inside the museum that refers to the American Civil War as a "great war between the states where the North invaded the Southern states to destroy their agrarian way of life." They fail to mention that this "agrarian" way of life required the enslavement of another race, nor did they mention that the South struck the first blow of the war by confiscating Fort Sumtner. It did give a fair evaluation of how the mill's built on the canal abused the local workers in another form of slavery. Other than that, the museum store was nice.

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!

was passing by so decided to visit the centre well worth a look good history and interactive displays...the history of the canals from how they was built and a great incite in the history of working cotton mills...fantastic building..we also got a boat trip up the canal in a 25 seater electric boat all very eco friendly.we saw otters swimming in the water,turtles,real close up!...ducks and lots of other birds the guides on the trip knew every thing..the boat trip lasts about 45 to an hour long....l think the price including the boat trip was about 25 dollar...but l think well worth it...there are a couple of placers to eat there but they was closed as it was a weekend!!!....but even so a good day out.....tip....the kids on the boat after 25 mins where looking a little uninterested..but thats kids..go take a look..we enjoyed it

wonderful place to take the whole family. the interpretive center is great...lots of nice displays and information that even the little ones can learn from and enjoy. and don't forget to take a canal tour on one of their cool old boats...lots of fun and great things to see on the Augusta Canal!

We had a wonderful day visiting Augusta Canal NHA. The museum at the Discovery Center was very informative. The short movie was excellent!! The boat tour was very nice, even though the Civil War info on the “Civil War Tour” was quite sparse.

I would recommend any visitor to Augusta to try out the canal museum and then take a ride. We signed up for civil war tour and our guide actually combined it with the history tour. It was nice to get out on the water and hear about its history. The boat ride was only $13.00 for an hour ride.

The boat ttip is for a nice day for it is open air. So hot sun or rain will effect the enjoyment. An umbrella would help with shade or rain. Interesting litttle museum.

This is one of the first places you should visit if you are visiting Augusta. There's a lot of great information about the area before the canal, and afterwards, as well as civil war history. We spent several hours here and then took one of the electric boat up the canal. Definitely worth a visit.

The discovery center is an interactive museum. You can get a real sense of the growth of the cotton industry and life in the area throughout the 19th century. Also very interesting to learn about the black powder plant that produced 3,000,000 pounds of black powder for the confederacy.

Not a very big museum. Admission a bit on the high side for what you experience. Make sure you see the video before taking the tour. Learned quite a bit about the hardships of the mill workers and why and how the canal was built. Good for a rainy day activity. Call ahead to make sure the boat rides are not booked up.

Would recommend to young and old.. This is a super way to learn the Augusta heritage. I am very pleased that I took this tour with my 2 girls..

Anytime is good for the museum and the canal boat ride. Some of the best rides are the moonlight music cruises. Check the schedule for spring and fall dates. Bring your own snacks and drinks welcome on the boat. The music cruise is mostly for adults. The daytime trips are great for kids. There are lots of ducks and wildlife at the canal. There are also fun walks that are scheduled. Check the web site for all of the activities.

My wife and I enjoyed the entire visit. We were unable to reserve spots on the 3 p.m. & 4:30 p.m. tour; but, we did get in on the 1:30 (which I consider a bonus because it included the Civil War tour). Although it was a one hour tour, they do offer three hour tours and the 'Petersburg Boats' will go all the way to the headgates of the canal on weekends. If you are wanting to take pictures, you can stand on the boats except when passing under bridges and other canal structures...so you can avoid having the tops of people's heads in your photos.

My friend and I took her 3 year old grandson on the Augusta Canal tour on a boat through the old cotton/weaving buildings. Its was about a 30/40 min tour on the waterfront. Tour guide gave us the history as we went up and back down the canal. There was many items inside from the
mills.
It was very interesting.
You never know what you have right in the town you live in unless you look it up on line. We looked up ""Augusta Attractions" on line and have been to many places right here in Augusta Ga.

The canal discovery center offers an interesting insight into Augusta and Southern history. The history of the canal is the history of Augusta, Georgia. The history is told through exhibits, a video and the Petersburg boat tour. For one price you get it all. We found it incredibly interesting.

Knew nothing about the canal before I went here. Came to check it out and get Passport stamp. Pleasantly surprised at how well the canal was presented.

Anytime we find a gem like this, my husband and I tell each other, "Let's come back sometime with the grandkids." This was a gem. The National Park service has built a great interactive museum about the canal, textile industry, Civil War in Augusta, King cotton, and what life was like in the 1860's- 1880's. Our tour boat captain was very well informed and at the end there was no hat out for tips. We were thrilled to hear that Civil war General Tecumseh Sherman bypassed this city, on his historic, destructive march to the sea. Don't miss this gem in Augusta.

Good starting point if you intend to tour the canal. This small museum has exhibits to tell the history of its construction and expansion to power the cotton manufacturing facilities. Small entrance fee includes a short video presentation. Tickets for Canal cruises sold here. It was warm and sunny so we didn't take the cruise.

Interesting historical tour of the old cotton industry and how it worked in Augusta. Definitely see the 10 minute movie at the beginning if the tour. Worth seeing. And try ti do the boat ride up the canal.

The Interpretive Center & the boat tour is very interesting & informative. We especially enjoyed the boat tour with Capt. Travis & our guide.

Museum is interactive and informative...very well done! The Peterson Boat Tour was so much fun! We got to see lots of turtles and muskrats. The guide was very knowledgeable. The guide gave lots of interesting historical info about Augusta as well as info about the wildlife of the canal. Just moved to Augusta and it is my favorite attraction in the city! If you visit in the summer, I would recommend going in the morning due the heat and lack of shade.

This is a wonderful, educational exhibit. I frequently bring my out of town guests here before we embark on a canal tour.

went there with no expectations but they have done a great job with this place. The boat tour was nice and the staff very informed about stuff.

This was the first week that the Petersburg boats had been moved back from the headwaters to the Enterprise Mill.

The canal had been drained for repair, and the full boat tour could not be made. This was because the water passage through a bridge was partially blocked.

Still, the tour guide and museum were wonderfully informative.

The Augusta Canal was built primarily to power industry, rather than for navigation. It was also build well after the canal mania of the 1830s, inspired by the success of the Erie Canal. The interpretive center tells the cultural and political story of the canal, as well as the technical side. For instance, it was considered "ungentlemanly" to start an industry in the South, but a man of vision persevered. Have you ever been to a "hands-on" museum where you push a button and nothing happens? Not here. Every button lights a light, activates a loudspeaker, or makes something move. the site, in one of the original mills and next to the canal itself, adds to the experience. A drive up the parkway to the lock and dam completes the tour. Well worth a detour.

This is a nice way to spend an afternoon in with a lot to learn about the history of the canal, the mills and Augusta. Boat ride is a bonus. Admission is very inexpensive.

This is the museum one should start with, if one is to really appreciate and understand what Augusta is all about. Thanks to a short introductory video and excellent explanations made by two very knowledgeable, friendly and professional ladies, Holley Madden & Jessica Hornsby, I managed to really enjoy the museum and the city visit. A must visit!

Very informative center and pleasurable boat ride up to canal to the locks. Bring your picnic and wine and enjoy the evening boat cruse with friends.

Booked this sunset cruise for my husband's Father's Day gift. It was a pleasant 3 hour cruise down Memory Lane. We used to live in Augusta and fished in the canal when we were newly married. We will celebrate our Golden Anniversary in August so it was great fun to see how it's changed and all the improvements which have been made. The commentary from the guide and the Captain were most informative. The displays in the Enterprise Mill bldg. are
very interesting and educational. A great place for kids to learn about a bygone era.

The city was failing until a visionary decided to create a canal to revitalize the economy. The only canal in the south built to create textiles to rival those in the north. Fascinating exhibit in an old mill showing artifacts and exhibits about the canal and the mills. Very interactive displays which showed the life of the people who worked in the mills including women and small children. Interesting exhibit which discusses the cruelty of child labor. There is also an optional boat ride to show various sites relating to the Canal.

The Interpretive Center is a great place to learn the history of the Augusta Canal. There is a short movie to watch that gives a great overview of the information. I highly recommend taking the Petersburg boat ride after going through the center. You can take a short ride that lasts about an hour, or a longer ride that is twice as long and goes to the headgates of the canal. I have taken both, and would love to take each of them over again. A docent goes along on the tour to give you information on the canal and architectural history. Some evening rides even have music.

I took the canal tour and as part of that I could go to the museum. Unfortunately, I got there 20 minutes before closing. I was able to watch the introductory video and walk around the museum quickly. Would like to visit again when I have more time.

Took the Heritage Boat Tour this past weekend and it was pretty cool. The speaker was very knowledgeable and entertaining. It lasted about an hour and we even got to see a swamp otter. It was a beautiful day for a boat ride, the weather was outstanding. A lot of history on the canal and I believe you get to visit the discovery center for free with the boat tour.

Welcome center is very accommodating - helpful, great educational movie, boat ride is a must do to learn about the canal. Museum is interesting and very educational. Hope to get back one day.

Who new Augusta had such rich history. Very informative and relaxing cruise down the canal. Great for Kids and Adults

We very much enjoyed the canal boat ride and the guide's narration concerning the history of the canal, the impact on the city, and the efforts to re-vitalize the area. Be sure and watch the movie before taking the boat ride.

Very friendly personnel.

This discovery center is located in the historic Enterprise Mill. It's a fabulous building and fortunate that it was never destroyed. There is a short informative film to see and then lots of exhibits to read & listen to as you walk around the museum. It's very interesting to learn of the history of Augusta and the mills built along the river. I was amazed at the ingenuity of the entrepreneurs who saved Augusta and also saddened about the horrible conditions of the workers- especially women and children- in these fabric mills. This made me want to go learn more about the city and it's history. A well done museum with a lot to offer.

The discovery center is nice, interesting, and informative. But the best part is the canal tour which really is a great history lesson of Augusta. I highly recommend this canal boat ride

Great self guided interperative area. Depaarture point for canal tours

This was a very calming pleasant trip along the canal in a Peters burg boat very large and roomy used original for carrying cotton etc great commentary very informative

Some in our group went out on the canal boats, but I decided to walk the paths beside the canal, instead. I loved the interpretive markers and the views.

The Interpretive Center is very interesting and educational. I seem to learn a bit more about Augusta each time I go. The Canal boat ride is wonderful. It's best in Spring or Fall when it's not so hot outside. There's always something new to see!

This is a wonderful history interpretation center. They tell it like it was back then - the good and the bad. Very good exhibits. We took the boat tour on the canal - very beautiful. Highly recommended.

You should take the canal tour along with visiting the museum. This is a "must" visit for history buffs - especially for newcomers to the south.

Museum offers the background of the canal with many items to let you see the state of 19th century manufacturing technology. The canal shows it to you first hand. So glad we still have it to admire. Thank you, Augusta!

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!

Great food, great people..Thank you for keeping the rowers full and happy!!!

The center has good exhibits and indepth information. Definitely worth a visit.

A wonderful trip down the canal -- quiet and beautiful!

This place truly gives you an expansive view of how wide the river between Ga. and S.C. can be. Great place to hold events.

I've been through the Interpretive Center several times and enjoy it every time. It's so informative and educational. But my favorite thing is the canal trip in the Petersburg boat. It's so relaxing and I've learned so much from it.

If you love history or nature you'll love this place! You get the best of both.

We took this inexpensive boat ride of the Augusta cancal. It was in an open air boat that sat around 25. WE enjoyed the personal experience. Everyone from the ticket person on was friendly and informative. There was commentary about the local history of the canal. Enjoyable time for all.

We had neither the time nor the interest in taking a canal boat tour but I am sure it would be worth the time for those who have never been through locks before. Our time in the museum learning about the textile mills in the area was very enlightening and described conditions in them that we had only guessed at. The interactive displays heightened the value of the visit.

Nice way to spend some time - interesting museum and a lovely boat trip up and down the canal - got to see some interesting buildings and wildlife - great for all the family

We took a family member that was visiting from out of town on the Riverboat tour down the canal. It was a great experience. Highly reccommended.

We decided to take out of town company down to ride a Petersburg Boat on the Augusta Canal. The brief movie you watch first was very informative; be aware there are a set of stairs outside you need to climb to get to the canal level from the center. Then to get into the boat are about 5 steep stairs. I had my cane and my husband to help me but it was tough. A large portion of the first floor of this old mill is given over to the interpretive center and it is well done. I liked the big bell in the courtyard that was rung to order the mill worker's day. The boat ride takes about 45 minutes and the tour guide was friendly and knowledgeable. I want to return with more company and this time do the confederate tour instead. It is well worth the low cost of the ticket.

This place is full of Augusta history. The displays are a little dated and some don't work anymore, but it's a cool, clean place to learn a lot about Augusta's history in a short time. Definitely worth the stop. The canal boat ride is pretty cool, too. Be prepared for the heat and the sun, though.

The interpretative museum is important background information for the tour of the canal by Petersburg boat. Augusta's Canal was the basis for its pre-Civil war prosperity and the industrial boom, based on textiles, which followed enlargement of the Canal in 1875. The Canal is also one reason (and Augusta's relatively isolated location another) that the Confederate government established the Confederate Powder Works there. Other industries followed and Augusta was a major supplier of gunpowder and other war materiels. The interpretative museum tells about the development of the Canal and water power in Augusta, touches on its role in the Civil War, and places emphasizes on the textile mills which followed the war. It's really very interesting, although 124 school children in the relatively small area, made studying the exhibits somewhat difficult. The staff, however, made sure that my wife and I had what amounted to a "private showing," of an informative video about the Canal.

The tour of the Canal, the second phase of this historical tour, then places in the mind how the Canal served Augusta and its industries, before, during, and after the war. We were there in late October, when the ride in the open Petersburg boat, the shallow-draft boats used to transport goods on the canal, was really quite pleasant. The captain and the tour guide pointed out numerous and varied wildlife along the canal. All it all, a very pleasant three or four hour tour of one of Georgia's major textile centers in the early to mid 20th century. The Canal is still used to generate electricity which is sold to Georgia Power.

We'd be writing a review of the great family spots in Augusta... but there aren't any we've found... and we've been looking for 3 years. It's worth the approx. 70 mile drive to go to Columbia SC instead (Riverbanks, Discovery Center, Puppet Theatre, State Museum, etc.).

An awesome regional museum that gives the historical background of the Augusta Canal. The cultural and economical aspects are covered in a very interesting and educational way.

Short film; many dioramas; textiles, etc. A great museum for young and old alike!

My son & I went on the Canal ride. We found the guide was very good and shared a lot of the history and local information. As we are not American we found the history part very interesting. It was neat to see all the turtles along the canal. It was just before all the spring flowers were in bloom and I could see how stunning that would have been.
We found the movie informative and the staff helpful

We toured this museum, while we waited for our boat tour on the Augusta Canal. The interactive exhibits and the story of the canal and how it made the area progressed from the canal.

The museum is well worth your time! Extremely well done. Rain prevented the canal ride, so we'll do that on another visit. Recommend allowing the time to see the.museum before the ride.

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.

Brought my elderly grandmother, and my parents and aunt from out of town. They thoroughly enjoyed the interpretive center, learning the history of our area and seeing inside the waterworks system. We went on the canal tour, which was relaxing, informative, and overall enjoyable. Those in my group with disabilities had trouble with the stairs to the boat, as there was no ramp and the stairs were narrow, steep and a bit uneven. They made it, but it was not the best set up. The tour itself was great- and the boat is unique! Be sure to take lots of pictures out on the water. There are architectural sites, nature viewing areas, and historical spots. They have night cruises with music, which I would love to do some weekend on a date with my spouse. Overall, I recommend this treasure of Augusta!

There are a fair number of exhibits that have interesting facts about the city. Couple this visit with a Canal Tour, and you've got a good way to blow a few hours to learn a little about Augusta.

Love this place. A beautiful building, with a sometimes working small turbine that has a window on it so you can see inside (and if they are running it a whole chunk of drive mechanism actually runs), a great story about the industrialization of the U.S., a lovely theater showing an informative movie, lovely staff and a boat ride on a near copy of one of the canal boats that used to travel up this amazing canal that someone had the guts to design and build to put Augusta on the map. Nothing not to like and a great introduction to one of the South's important historical events. Go!

Very informative and nicely run boat ride on the canal. The Discovery Center has a nice theatre with a 10 minute film about the canal.

Here the history of Augusta is interpreted with an emphasis on the canal that defined 19th century Augusta.

My son had a field trip to this attraction. We were pleasantly surprised by the level of knowledge of the boat tour guide and the film speaker. The museum was clean and well-kept. To top it off, lunch in the courtyard out front was a nice time and great weather. It is something that every person should do at least once, especially those with ties to Augusta or the surrounding area. It is important to learn about the history of your local area. It gives you a better appreciation for where the city came from and where they are now.

The center is good facility that's uncrowned and scenic. Take the Petersburg boat tour up the canal for an added fun experience.

Canal boat trip is very informative. Children should like this in town adventure. Also, the museum has interesting exhibits explaining what the Enterprise Mill has meant to Augusta's growth and history.

The Canal Discovery Center is very interesting and very well presented. I highly recommend visiting this center. Do not miss this piece of history in Augusta. Outstanding!!!

Boarding a unique looking long boat we sailed up the canal for about one hour, which was about half it's total length. We had a fantastic knowledgeable young lady for a quite that made the trip very enjoyable and interesting. Recommend this as a great way to spend a morning or afternoon.

We really enjoyed looking around. It was very informative and everyone was very nice to deal with. They has a very pretty gift shop. It was the base for us to take the Canal boat trip.

This tour, which is included if you buy a Boat Tour of the Canal is very informative and interesting. Great value for the price. It also has a tiny gift shop inside. I especially love to go on the boat tours.

The boat ride was nothing special. The information they did share about the area was interesting, but it was very short. Most seats are side benches only giving you a limited view. We chose two card table chairs in the middle so we could look forward.

They need to update their website. For months we have checked it to book a tour, but it says “No upcoming Boat Tours scheduled. Check back soon.” We discovered by accident this wasn’t true and you had to call. Once we did that we had no issues making a reservation. The Q&A section of their website also needs updating. It says they offer a AAA discount, but the employee at the facility said they don’t offer this.

There is a small museum to view. If you like this sort of thing it might be enjoyable, but it wasn’t that exciting to us. We watched the 10 minute movie and spent another 10 minutes looking at the exhibits.

The Augusta Canal Center is a wonderful place to visit!!!! I especially recommend it to visitors with kids. The displays are very informative and interactive for kids of all ages. Don't miss out on the canal boat rides! Though they are over way too fast, the cruises are great and the guides couldn't be better!!!!! Wonderful way to see another side of Augusta!!!

The Augusta canal is like a little oasis. I went through the museum at the Old Cotton Mill and visited the little gift shop. It was refreshing , as Augusta does not have a great deal of culture. I also took a boat ride on the canal where I was impressed by the tour guides and the wealth of information. They provided information on the canal, the mill and the wildlife that made it's home o the canal . I was uncomfortable to lest about the alligators that inhabit the canal . Except for the alligators , I had an enjoyable, relaxing visit.

What an entertaining afternoon of Augusta history! The canal, that was hand dug in the mid 1800s, is a treasure for the city. Was interesting hearing about the ammunition mfg, textile industry and now the switch to tourism. The interactive museum and the 10 minute movie were so well done!!!

Great experience, you get a short film of history before you take the trip. You can bring snacks and beverages for the narrated trip.

The Lucy Craft Laney Museum of Black History is a must see while in Augusta. Miss Laney was born a free slave and started the first all black elementary & nursing school. We were there just after the Masters golf tournament & they had a wonderful exhibition of black golfers...

I brought family visiting from out of town here to take a one hour canal boat tour so they could learn about the area in a neat way. The boat tour was very informative about the history of the mills and structures along the canal, as well as the plants and wildlife we saw along the way. The Discovery center has lots of great information too. I love the models of the mill town and buildings from the past. A great visit for those interested in the area's history.

This was a very interesting renovated mill - lots of history about the canal - worth a visit. It is a huge building that contains offices as well as apartments. You could feel the history.
Worth a visit and just a couple of blocks from the central business district.

This was my second time visiting the interpretive center, but this review is about the Petersburg Boat tours, they are fabulous! This was my second tour on the boat and each time the tour guide has done an excellent and informative presentation on the history of the canal. It is a beautiful trip down the peaceful canal; you can see wildlife and hear all about the history. If you visit Augusta, this is definitely worth one hour of your time.

The discovery center has a boat ride with a band which was fantastic. The museum was an extra plus for the boat ride. We were able to bring some snacks and drinks aboard.

My wife and I happened to time it just right and were the only ones on this particular tour time, so we had a an exclusive tour. Tour guide was very informative...much history about this area that I never knew. It is amazing how ingenious some people were in history. We saw some wildlife, but no gators. We had a relaxing and enjoyable tour. The Captain was a very good navigator.

I visited the Augusta Canal Interpretive Center specifically to take the Civil War themed Canal Tour. I was very much impressed with the museum at the Enterprise Mill and the way that it presented history. Perhaps because my Great-Grandparents were mill workers, I especially enjoyed the interactive aspects, such as a game that timed you putting bobbins on pins. It was a simple little thing, but really gave you the chance to see some small aspect of the tasks performed in the mill. There were numerous exhibits like this, which children and adults will enjoy. As for the canal tour, I did enjoy that as well. We saw a lot of native wildlife, such as birds and turtles, as well as the historic buildings along the river. Although it was quite hot, the tour boat provided umbrellas to shade us from the sun in the metal boat.

Great place to visit, the boat ride is exiting lots of fun and nature to see. Location is very safe and the kids would enjoy. It located in the downtown area

Didn't know what to expect - stopped after a day at the Masters to get a NPS stamp. The museum was very fun and had some cool interactive displays. We spent an hour or so looking at them all and wish we had more time to take a boat tour. The gift shop is well stocked with many interesting things.

A great little tour in an open boat traveling up and down the canal with the tour guide giving details on the history and pointing out sites and wildlife along the way. It was very informative but, not so sure how smaller kids would do except for the fun of being on an open boat. The museum was a very interesting addition to the canal tour.

Great visit, good for family must take canal ride too it is very informative even for a native did not know that about Augusta. Not to hot in the am not covered so think about the heat!

Recently visited and I must say , I was really intrigue with the entire tour. The weather was pleasant ''not as hot" but the water was low on the canal. I learned quite a bit about Augusta GA and the Savannah River. The Discovery Center is well maintained and clean including the public restrooms. I enjoyed myself and I would definitely recommend visiting.

That was a really wonderful museum. We will come back! the staff there was wonderful and very knowledgeable
Thank you!

We were walk on riders, but they do recommend reservations. The cost was $10 per adult. The cruise was one hour long. The narrator gave us lots of historical facts. We saw some wildlife including different varieties of turtles, a water moccasin, blue heron, fish, and other birds. They had umbrellas aboard the boat to shade us from the hot sun, (It was in the 90's.) We had plenty of room. The steps were a little steep to go into/out of the boat, and the hand rail wasn't very long. I'd recommend wearing tennis shoes. I would make a return visit if in the area again. We didn't use our ticket to go into the Discovery Center due to lack of time, but it's free with your boat ticket. The captain and narrator both did a great job.

In one hour, we learned a lot about the history of Augusta. Definitely worth it.

I was not aware of the information that was available at the Interpretative center. I had been there several years ago and took boat ride with a church group. This time we took some out of town guests for a visit. It was wonderful and very informative. First class small museum with lots of history. We were not able to take boat ride due to weather. Maybe next time.

The Augusta Canal is a great family trip. You can visit the exhibits before or after the canal ride.

We took the canal tour and explored the Discovery Center with our 9 children, ages 2 to 18.
The canal tour was great for all ages. Bring binoculars! The kids all enjoyed the guided tour, and loved the freedom of the big Petersburg boat; they could kneel on the benches, and turn to look out the sides of the boat. We learned some great local history from the tour.
Back at the Discovery Center, there is a short overview film (get there early enough that you can watch it before the canal ride), a fun gift shop, and a hands on museum that was fun for the kids, but classy enough to be interesting for mom and the bigger ones also. We learned about taking cotton from the plant all the way to finished fabric, got to take some fun photos, and even had dobbin contests (could you cut working in a textile mill???). There were printed activities for the kids to take home, and clip boards if you wanted to do them there.
Fun place for the whole family, and a great stop for learning about Augusta now and then!

Went with a group from my church and thoroughly enjoyed our time. The background of the canal and the worker's lives was fascinating. Loved the boat ride and took lots of pictures.

This is a nice place to visit on a spring day with friends from out of town or take a trip down there its worth the visit and is kept up very nice and neat.

We enjoyed the Canal ride. Our guide was a retired teacher, and was very informative. Our driver did an excellent job of guiding our boat under the bride overpass, never bumped the wall. They also provided umbrellas for those who thought the sun was too hot. We enjoyed a morning cruise with our family.

Love this canal tour. We do this event every chance we get. Especially the music boat. Great entertainment. We always ask to ride on Capt Charlie's boat. Friendliest boat capt they have.

I was looking for something different to celebrate my wife's birthday and decided to try a Friday night musical boat tour. What a great choice and a most delightful evening. The trip lasted nearly 2 hours and we were entertained by a couple who offered a variety of musical choices---all good. We brought our own wine and snacks and had a most delightful evening. We are going again with some friends to see Karen Gordon on this same venue. What a delightful treasure this is. To make it even more interesting, they have a short video about the history of the development of the canal and what it meant and still means to Augusta.

The building is nice and in fact still an operational mill. The museum inside was nice, well laid out. We watched a short video prior to the Canal Boat tour. The guide and captain were friendly and the narrative during the trip was very informative and interesting. It is an open boat and it was hot but they supplied "sun" umbrellas to anyone that wanted one. Bring water if it is hot out.

It's not what it used to be but it's still a great place to spend an afternoon with your family. At night the place gets a bit sketchy but that just the city life I guess. If the weather is right and you are looking for a romantic place to hang out at... I say go for it!

Great place to start hearing the history of Augusta and the canal. Take a guided tour down and back up the canal as you go you will see several factory, past historial homes, learn who and why the canal was built. The canal was dug by hand to bring power to Augusta for the factory to come after. The Discovery center is still run totaly on the power from the canal. The extra power is sold back to the power company. Kids will love the turtles that live there. Start here and then go see the homes restored from the past.

If you go see the movie first before you take the canal tour. Ride on a long boat thru the canal..beautiful scenery and history lesson. Seeing the architecture on the shore so interesting. Then tour the museum.

We went on this lovely cruise and was so surprised how lovely it was! This evening - the music was Smooth Jazz with Fred (seriously talented and sounds alot like Kenny G)!

Bring a picnic dinner with you, take in Augusta from a historic perspective and relax!

I just booked this for future guests!

I love this place. They show movies about the town of Augusta and its history. The building was used for cotton many years ago. They have a great selection of gifts for the best price in town. You can also ask for recommendations for what else to do in that area. Near some great restaurants.

Do not do this on a hot day in Augusta! You will melt like a Hershey's kiss in a microwave on high!

Other than that it is a great tour. Take in the scenery and the history of Augusta.

I took my mom to the Augusta Canal Interpretive Center and was thrilled to experience the journey through the historical building. The architecture of the Enterprise Mill is amazing and the interpretive center really brought perspective to the historical importance the canal played in defining Augusta and the region. The boat tour was equally wonderful. We thoroughly enjoyed our guided tour along the Augusta Canal National Heritage Area and highly recommend it to all ages and groups to learn about its importance throughout history as well as enjoy the wildlife and serene environment.

This is by far one of the "must see" things about Augusta! The mill is super interesting and the $12. Fee includes a very interesting ride on a canal boat.

The rich history of Augusta Georgia can be viewed from the eyes of the toir guide. We went on this trip down the canal and saw the rich history of Augusta Georgia. You can bring food and wine. You will love the experience.

Have fun learning about the workings of a textile mill and learn about the importance of the Augusta Canal with a guided boat ride on the canal.

The Canal Center is a great way to learn history. They offer boat rides to ride a section of the canal as they point out wildlife on the edges. Take a hat if you're visiting in the warmer months!

We had planned to take the canal boat ride but a rain storm came through and we went through the museum to wait out the rain. So glad we did. It is very informative, well laid out, and interactive enough to keep children and adults involved. Learned a lot about the textile industry pre-civil war.

Never having been to Augusta, we were quite interested in the history of the cotton and textile mills of the area. No OSHA back then! The displays at the Interpretive Center are detailed and highly interactive. Great for adults, kids (and adults who feel like acting like kids as they learn)! The gift shop carries many items from educational books, to (likely) non-USA made toys and little stuff, to ornaments, to earthenware. The worker on the day we were there was a total joy! (Dec. 5). Thanks so much for the experience.

So we walked in cold on a Tuesday, the day our flight was supposed to leave, since we were touring the enterprise mill looking for an apartment for my son. The staff were very warm and welcoming and we were able to book the one hour canal boat tour on the spot. It is not very busy, or at least in was not on a weekday in May.

The museum itself is in need of an update. The movie (10 minutes) is from 2003 and talks about the transition of the area from tobacco and cotton in the 1800's to textiles, and how the canal, an engineering marvel, played an important role in making Augusta a hub of trade and commerce, as well as being a manufacturing facility for the South in the "war between the states" - no one in Georgia calls it the Civil War as I observed. Interestingly, I think a lot has changed since 2003 - I am not a political person and respect all views, but this movie (and the museum) do just about nothing to acknowledge the role of slavery and slave labor and the legacy of slavery in the area. I don't think it should be the main thrust of a museum necessarily, and I do not want to sound like a crazy firebrand, but I do think times have changed enough to warrant some mention.

The museum area itself is small with some really cool models, but most of the displays, especially the interactive ones, are in need of repair and do not work well. I would not recommend this for small children since they would most likely be bored or not interested.

The real prize of this venue is the canal boat tour. The captain and the tour guide were super friendly and highly knowledgeable. They know Augusta and the canal and the history, as well as many facts about the nature and industry, and make the tour just riveting. We were able to see some river otters too, which we were told are a rare sighting. The boats themselves are quite large, and electric, so they are quiet. unfortunately, the boas only go as far as the first sets of locks - we were told they used to travel past this point, but that there were renovations being done upstream. The boats on the weekends apparently host musical acts and guests are encouraged to bring food and drink. Again, this seems to me, at least, more of an adult activity, and I am not sure smaller children would enjoy the boat ride, the heat and the limited views when seated since the side walls of the boat are high and not easy to see over.

Lovely film taking you down history lane of how the canal came into being. Interactive museum shows the life in the south as a child, as a cotton Merchant and how United yet divided at the turn on century.

A must see if you live in Augusta. Very well done and informative. I went with a school group and will go back by myself to take it all in.

The discovery center has fascinating interactive exhibits showing the history of Augusta’s canal and its textile industry. Included is a 10 minute film that succinctly ties the historical facts together. We also did the canal ride, which included lots of beautiful scenery and stories of the buildings and monuments along the way. It was a very enjoyable outing and an excellent way to learn more about the history of Augusta, Georgia.

This is a must see while in Augusta. This exhibit is a real walk through the time line and history of the area. Much of the history of the canal can't be seen except from the canal. The tour guides are exceptional in their knowledge of times & events and make it a fun adventure for all.

No thrill. Not really impressed with curator who was on phone while we waited to ask questions. Eventually we left, disappointed. Our son, who is a Boy Scout, picked this place at random because it was listed as a landmark and could have been helpful in meeting a requirement for a merit badge.

Many great exhibits reflecting the historic relevance of the construction and uses of the Augusta Canal.

Fantastic place to bring the kids and learn about the history of the canal and the Munitions industry for the civil war. Historical trip on the canal.

We arrived at the Discovery Center 30 minutes before our boat tour. We had time to buy a couple of things in the gift shop and watch the movie. We were the only 2 people on the tour. Our tour guide was excellent, giving us a lot of the history of the buildings that was saw as well as ones that used to be there. After the tour we went through the museum, which was very well done. Would highly recommend!

The 2 hour afternoon boat tour was great. Learned a lot about Augusta that I didn't know. Employees were courteous.

We were not expecting such an informative and engaging group of exhibits. Many were interactive in a way that captured the attention of young and old. We learned a great deal about Augusta's history.

On our boat cruise, Teri complemented the museum facts about the canal with viewing them in person. A visit to the museum and cruise will give a full picture of the path of development of Augusta.

Excellent way to spend an hour or so while visiting Augusta, GA. Very informed tour guides relating the history and geography of the historic Augusta canal. Information dates back to the beginning of the state along with Civil War lore. Kids will love the boat ride in authentic canal barges. Really enjoyed the time spent.

The Augusta Canal Discovery Center is located beside the Augusta Canal. The Center is in an old building, which houses equipment once used to operate the canal. Some of the equipment is still present in the building and is visible through glass panes in the walls and floors. I thoroughly enjoyed seeing the old machinery and pipes used to operate the locks.
The museum is small, but informative. It has information about the history of the canal and the region. The museum is well-laid out, with good displays. Outside, a set of stairs leads to the canal itself. There's a path along the canal. The center also offers boat tours, which I wasn't able to do at the time of my visist.

The museum is interesting. Best of all are the boat history tours. Guides are knowledgeable. The boat is quiet and scenery beautiful. Entertainment offered some evenings.

We went to the Augusta Canal Interpretive Center to catch the 1 hour 'Civil War' canal ride. The Center is very informative of Augusta's past with a broad range of photos, displays, artifacts, etc. Took the canal ride which was about an hour--lovely weather so it that aspect was good--not much to see really--the guide talks about the Confederate States largest gun powder factory along the banks of the canal. Nothing much remains (apart from a smoke stack), so you have to imagine how it must have looked. There are turtles and various birds on the banks of the canal and that's interesting if you're a nature lover, too. It was $23 for two adults; not bad, and on a nice day, there are worse ways of spending the day!

This is an fun place to visit in Augusta. There is a small but very informative museum in the old mill building. It tells the history of the development of the canal and the textile industry that put Augusta on the map. Then you can take the boat ride on the canal in an actual replica of the canal boats and see the various mills on the river. The guide does an excellent job of explaining the development of the mills in the mid 1800's and later the development of the gunpowder plants and supply centers that supported the south during the civil war. Along the way you will see various wildlife including heron, kingfishers and river otters. Even on a gloomy overcast day, this was well worth the cost of around $10 a person.

The canal interpretative center is definitely a must see if you are in Augusta. take the bot ride too as you get to see some sights and learne about Augusta's history. I enjoyed both the museum and the boat ride.

There is a short film that talks about the canal. Theater was right off the entry way. Then you walk through the museum area that has hands on areas as well as audio interpretation that are motion activated. Restrooms are in the back. Small gift shop that is filled with books, novelties and misc touristy things. This is where you will buy your ticket for the boat tour. MAKE RESERVATIONS. we heard people call while we waited for the boat tour and it was sold out.

This is nice little museum showing a piece of Augusta history. It is a must see for locals and visitors. The canal is one of those things in Augusta that everyone knows is there but folks don't appreciate. This provides a chance for all ages to see this part of history.

The museum itself is very clean and enjoyable. All the staff are superb too.

The staff is very friendly and there is a cute lil' gift shop too. The place has interesting things to view and it is in a beautiful industrial setting. Taking a canal cruise is a must!

Excellent, informative tour. Bring a hat and sunscreen. It was HOT and sunny. We did this in the afternoon. Well worth it - we had a fantastic guide, and the mill museum was very well done. School age children would enjoy and learn.

This is a tired old exhibit and the staff is disorganized and the boat trip on the canal is nothing special. But there is an old film they show at the beginning of the tour that gave me an insight I never had before about Southerners and their love for the Old South.
The film points out, in passing, that the economy of the pre-Civil War South was agriculture, and that was plantatations and slaves. It left little work for many white folk, which is something I never thought about before.
The Augusta Canal was built to power a manufacturing industry in the city, and factories sprang up. Poor whites from all over the South came to Augusta for the jobs. Everything was great at first, but (as always seems to happen), the industrialists began screwing the workers, cutting wages and adding hours, and if they began talking about unions, the bosses would evict them from their company-owned houses.
So, the plantation economy using free slave labor screwed the Southern white population by depriving them of agricultureal jobs, and then the industrial economy screwed the white population again.
On the canal boat trip the tour guide points out a big smoke stack that was part of a factory that made gunpowder for the Confederate Army. Local citizens donated large sums to restore the smokestack as a memory of those wonderful days of past glory.
But I really don't understand the sentiment. On top of being screwed by the bosses, now young white men were being sent out to be shot and killed to defend the system that screwed them.
Really, what was so great about the good old days?

We came for the canal tour, but after walking through the museum and watching the film, they told us that the canal tour had to be cancelled because the boat hit something. We were disappointed, but they did give us our money back. The museum is interesting, although you can pretty much see and read everything in 30-45 mins.

We had a fun time exploring the discovery center museum and learning about the history of the Augusta canal. When we arrived, the lady at the desk told us we didn't need to pay because it was national parks week and it was free. Bonus! The only reason I didn't rate them higher, was that we found the discovery center entrance difficult to locate. Our gps brought us into the parking lot of the enterprise building, but we were unsure as to what entrance to use. Once inside the building, we followed the signs, but they were not detailed enough. We probably spent about 15 minutes trying to navigate the hallways of the building...thankfully its a beautiful building to explore!

We took the tour on the canal and were very impressed with the guide's knowledge. This is a key part of visiting Augusta.

If you're going to look at the history of Augusta, this is a must. It's fun, and you get to go through history and learn a lot about the city.

My wife and I spent two interesting hours at this interpretive center that focuses on the Augusta Canal. We found the displays well thought out, interesting and understandable. This center gives a very accurate look at how water power was the key to why the cotton mills located all big the canal and what it was like to work in one of the textile mills. The center is located in an old mill that is in itself very interesting and well air conditioned

We also took the 1 hour canal boat trip. The theme of our trip was on the part that the canal played during the civil war. This trip is in an open boat and although hot, it was very interesting. Kelli, our "guide", gave our group a very good overview of the canal and the Civil War and pointed out historical sites along the canal.

The interpretive center is located on the canal side of the former Enterprise Mill site. Our GPS led us easily to the parking lot on the opposite side of the building. There were no directional signs to lead us to the interpretive center and the lady who answered our call at the center did not know how to get us to the center. It was by trial and error that we eventually found it.

Was there for the canal tour,with the wait time was able to take in the history of the area.It`s truly amazing how the canal was built and the factories were able to compete with the North.It is a must see if your in the Augusta area,along with the canal trip.Really enjoyable not expensive.Military discount and seniors.

There was only 1 other couple on our 9 AM ride. We had the guide and the boat to ourselves. Our guide was very knowledgeable and friendly. We learned quite a bit of the history about how the canal saved the city of Augusta from going bankrupt. 9 AM is a perfect time for a canal ride during the summer months.

I first visit I felt as though I was Not in Augusta but somewhere else. Good history lesson. Good learning experience for school age and adults

Well educated tour guide, and while she was not very friendly, or knowledgable of the other aspects of the canal it was informative.

Gorgeous area, peaceful, lots of parking. Great place to learn some history of the canal.

The museum is very information and interesting. I thoroughly enjoyed the canal ride. The view was very scenic and the tour guide was excellent. I never knew Augusta had such a rich history. The experience was well worth it.

Walked through to see the canal boats. The old restored mill was impressive.We intend to return for a tour and a ride on the canal.

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.

Have a nice scenic wall or sit and relax. It's a scenic place so you should bring your cameras. The center itself as people there who can give information about the canal

My family and I decided to spend a half day in Augusta during our annual road trip vacation. We knew we had time to visit two sites in Augusta and chose the Augusta Canal National Heritage Area with its Discovery Center Boat Tour as our first stop, and we were not disappointed! We had a multi-generational boat tour along the canal, as on the day of our visit, residents from a local assisted living facility and preschoolers at day camp took the boat ride with us; it was fun to hear all of the stories from the older riders and all of the oooos and ahhhs from the younger riders. There was a lot of excitement at sightings of the Yellow-bellied Slider turtles and many interesting photo ops of man-made structures and natural wonders in and along the banks of the canal.

Growing up my husband and i swam down at the waterfall part past the bridge when you take a left on the path And walk down And take another left you can't miss it, it will be on the right! We still do with our kids during the summer we also fish in the canal for sport and kayak and ride bikes on the trails! It's so fun and beautiful and clean. Take water and snacks the trails are long and fun on bike ride or if you decide to walk. Beautiful scenery lots of wild life you almost forget you are in Augusta Ga. There's a place way down the trails called the clearing which has a historical marker as many of the places along the canal do that's where my husband and I got married spool beautiful once you get there it's right on the river and the canal is behind you. Love this place I hope it always stays clean and beautiful!

The museum is quite good if a bit small. The shop itself is worth the trip. The boatride is nice but expensive and short.

The very interesting Discovery Center is located in a former mill along the Augusta Canal. Spend 30 mins. there, see the short movie and consider the challenge building the canal essentially by hand. The exhibit is free. Optional Petersburg Boat cruise at $14 was a little steep. It was fun and somewhat informative but there wasn't all that much to see. Virtually everything said by the guide was in the museum. See the Augusta Museum of History first and you will appreciate it all the more.

Took the canal boat tour.... Amazing. Enjoyed the sights and history of the canals importance to Augusta and surrounding areas. Make sure to spend a little time in the discovery center and learn about the history and future of the textile industry in the south

Fun, inexpensive, and informative. We took our toddler and she had the best time exploring. The staff was so nice!

I lived in Augusta eight years, but not until I returned for a weekend visit did I decide to take a cruise on the canal, and was glad I did. Very interesting insight into the history of Augusta and 19th Century USA in general. Don't miss it!

This is a good place to learn about the Augusta Canal and how important it was to the CSRA economy. Nicely preserved antiques and pictures to view. It is usually a quiet place and schools come here on field trips too. Come down take some pictures, walk around a bit and enjoy some historical reading about the area we live in. Fat Man's restaurant is nearby as well as other restaurants in the downtown area on Broad Street. Yes there are ramps for those of us with walking limitations. Wear comfortable shoes and try to plan a family outing here.

Wanted to see canal.tried to take tour.sold out for today(thur.10/14) said to came back tomorrow,Fri 10/15,it was a long drive to down town Augustabut we wanted to see it.got there early,bought tickets,waited for tour.1\2 hour late they came out and say no tours today,boat broken,will give refunds.two trips there,no tour.best they could do was free tickets for another day,visiting from michigan,not likely to try again.

We love canal and mills and the history behind it all. This place does not disappoint. We went on the Civil War history cruise on the canal and really enjoyed it. Thanks to Lynn for the informative narration!

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.

Piece of history not typically publicized.

Very relaxing

A bit scenic and an easy visit.

Lots of hidden charm here in Augusta

Well worth taking some time here.

This place is a must for the whole family. The canal boat ride is full of historical information and we also saw many turtles and great blue heron. They even provide umbrellas for shade. The interpretive center has amazing history exhibits (like a museum) and is fully air conditioned.

Staff was sooo friendly! Kellie as the boat tour guide was awesome. This is a great educational opportunity for kids and adults alike.

Enterprise mill is a great place to host events. was recently there with an event thru tri augusta and the ASC. place was nice and clean. the canal behind is a good place to see different wildlife as well. wasy to get to and well taken care of.

This is a unique place of history with so much information about a historical past of Georgia and Augusta in particular. There us a canal nearby and we took a boat ride on the canal.
Very quiet and uneventful and the canal waters so peaceful.
A family outing with children for sure.

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.

The Interpretive Center is a all-inclusive education on the History of the Augusta Canal. The Petersburg Boat tour of the Canal is quite educational and beautiful. This is a don't miss stop if you are visiting Augusta. Allow three hours or so.

Again, we visit Augusta many times & this was our first visit to this Center. It was fascinating. I especially love the fact that it is in an original building. DEFINITELY take the 1 hour boat trip on the canal!

Those who know little about history may not only be doomed to repeat it, but also, and more likely, are doomed to live in ignorance about the world around them. Such is it with this most excellent museum and interpretive center, which does a fine job of telling the story of Augusta's very interesting history related to the canal, to the textile industry, to the Civil War and other matters. A group of us from the Lowcountry dropped in, perused the center, took the tour boat up and down the waterway, listening to the most interesting and knowledgeable young lady, and finishing the few hours with a stop at the little cafe next door. An excellent day from learning, entertainment and culinary standpoint. We very much recommend going here.

This is my second trip down the canal. Both times the tour guides were very knowledgeable about the history of the area.

I found a brochure for the Augusta Canal in the hotel lobby so decided to check it out. I was not disappointed! I took the “Civil War” boat tour, which was about an hour long ride in a Petersburg boat in the canal. The guide provided great information about Augusta’s past, present, and future. The museum has several hands on exhibits that present the history of the canal. Definitely do!

This is a must see tour when visiting Augusta. Its also a wonderful one if you live here. Do the canal tour and enjoy the wild life and the beautiful canal water.

Very nice, informative. The museum was interesting and offered a short informative film. Enjoyable afternoon, reasonably priced. Good fun for couples and or families

We took a day to tour Augusta to get some history and perspective. The Center was just amazing...so well done and so interesting. Highly recommended!

We enjoyed our visit and felt it was worth the cost and time taken. Canal ride may not be for everyone, especially on a hot day..Discovery center is free with canal ride. The former Enterprise textile mill grounds is also quite interesting.

Don’t miss this. Great experience for everyone. Thoroughly enjoyed the river tour and museum. Fascinating place with lots of Augusta history to explore.

most underated venue in Augusta. Must do more to promote this enjoyable and informative exhibit.

it was just an interesting place to walk around, and we coupled it with the river walk, wear comfortable shoes and take a camera

Nice place to visit and take a boat ride on the canal. So much to see and learn. I loved seeing the wild life on the boat ride. The staff were friendly and informative. The store had a nice selection of souvenirs. I highly recommend this tourist attraction.

The Augusta Canal, located near downtown Augusta, was built before the Civil War to bring power and industry to Augusta. It is still operational today. A National Historic Site, it offers a small museum/interpretive center, and canal boat rides. The rides are at 10:30 am, 1:30 pm and 3:30 pm. Also some special evening cruises with sunsets and musical entertainment.
We took the 1;30 Civil War cruise. It pointed out the many sites of importance in Augusta during the Civil War. Quite interesting for us Northerners.
The fall colors were beginning to change along the shores and it was a peaceful, scenic and informative trip.
There were several school groups there, but they were all going on their own boats. Our boat had all adults and was quite relaxing. It was $12.50 per adult

My husband and I took the Peterson Boat music tour of the Augusta Canal. The captain stopped the boat under several of the canal bridges so the guests could enjoy the enhanced accoustics. The musicians played light jazz (six string bass and sax) and sang. It was a very enjoyable trip. I highly recommend it and the Discovery Center.

From the lady at the desk to the two ladies that took us out on the canal we enjoyed this part of our visit to Augusta. The museum is just great and hands on too. Which for my money is the best type of museum. Highly recommend while in the area.

We were in Augusta for the day and decided to stop at the Canal Interpretive Center. We're so glad we did! There was a 10 minute movie talking about the canal and its influence on Augusta. Then we walked through the museum, which was very interesting. We learned quite a bit about Augusta and the canal. We also went on the Civil War boat tour and had a lot of fun. The captain of the boat and the tour guide were great and very informative. We had a great time and will definitely take our grandson there!

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.

We have cruised the Augusta Canal 5 times in a year. It is a perfect place to bring visitors to Augusta and it is wonderful for children. Guides are knowledgeable, scenery is beautiful and one never knows what critter or bird will be seen. The Interpretative Center has a great short movie about the Augusta Canal and interactive, hands-on displays about the history, development and functions of the Canal. The small gift area has wonderful local products and books. Very worthwhile!

Not easy to find due to poor signage. City of Augusta should make an effort to revive the area. Well worth the visit and lots of good data on history and local area.

We really enjoyed our ride on the canal! Make sure to bring plenty of cold water and an umbrella on a hot day to block out the sun. Try to go on a cooler day if at all possible.

My wife and I had some time to explore Augusta and decided to go in here. The Center provided some very interesting history about Augusta - including how the canals provided water power the textile mills and later to produce gun powder during the Civil War. We also did the canal boat tour which was very informative as well. The staff at the Center were very friendly and obviously knowledgeable about the canal and history of Augusta!

This was a great field trip for the children, the museum has lots of cool stuff and even some interactive displays, we got to watch a sort film about Augusta and the mills before going on the boat. The boat tour (and guide) was very informative on the civil war history and the boat itself is very large with plenty of seating, the children got to move all around to get great views of the bridges, mills and things in nature. This is a must do when in Augusta! Bring a camera as there are some excellent opportunities for pictures.

My wife and I received this tour through a silent auction, and we are so glad we got to tour the canal. The sights are beautiful and gives a different perspective of Augusta. The tour guide is very informative and you gain a new knowlege of how Augusta grew from having a canal system. Great for everyone in the family. History buffs to nature lovers will have a wonderful time as you ride on the canal in a comfortable canal boat. They have various length tours and some that feature food and wine.

Staff all knowledgeable and helpful. Great family destination as well. Took the boat tour which was fun.

Loved this night! We celebrated the birthday of a good friend of mine! Great music, full moon coming up and view was wonderful!

I took my high school history students here as part of a downtown field trip. The staff were friendly and the place is set up for safe wandering and some hands on activities.

This was our first stop on our visit to Augusta.
Easy parking. Very informative museum.
Fun boat ride with a great guide and captain.

Good for school age kids, family visit, etc. combine with the canal tour. Thus even though it is indoors, choose a good outdoor day and check the canal turn schedule. Educational experience.

A friend and I went to hear The Henrys with Deveran at 6:00 P.M. on Friday, October 4, 2013. The three piece band (Dad plays the guitar, son plays the violin, and Deveran handles the upright bass) played Americana, semi-classical, and blue grass music to entertain the mixed crowd of about thirty-six persons. Most people brought food and drink aboard to enjoy while listening. The cruise is about an hour and half long. Enjoyed the scenery as well as the music. I didn’t see any passengers not having a good time. The charge is $25 per person. It is an open boat cruise, but the weather was fine with no chance of rain.

We had the pleasure to visit a very off the beaten path gem recently. We toured the augusta canal museum. We learned so much about augusta and had a small glimpse in to past augusta in days gone by. The most exciting part for all of us was the boat ride. What a wonderful view of parts of our city and it was a lot of fun too! This is a great place to visit because it appeals to any age group. My niece and nephew loved being able to interact in the museum then experience it on the boat.

The center itself is small but informative. It was pretty cool learning about the hydroelectric system that still powers the lights. The boat tour was interesting. A lot of the things they talk about no longer exist though, so you get to look at empty fields and imagine what once was. The canal is lined with trees and we saw lots of birds and even some playful otters. Our boat had everything from small children to elderly couples and it looked like everyone enjoyed themselves.

On the day I arrived, they did not have a boat running, as the third trip had been canceled. So I can't tell you about the boat ride. I did go through the museum, and walked up to the canal. Lovely greenway for walking. Locals were fishing across the canal. The Enterprise Mill was large and beautiful. The museum was a combination of history of the mill and the canal. Worth going.

A nice museum, film, and boat ride. We took the civil war theme boat adventure and enjoyed the one hour trip. A nice place to take out of town guests to.

Visited the canal, rode the boat, and toured the museum
A great place to learn the history of Augusta

The Augusta Canal Interpretive Center at Enterprise Mill is a very interesting place. It was interesting and everyone that I was accompanying me enjoyed the experience. The Canal tour was great, too.

I've been here twice and still learn something new from each person that does the tours. Love the boat ride and will be trying the evening boat ride soon.

I love history and I love water. This was both. If you are in downtown Augusta be sure to check this out.

I live here thus likely take many of what I consider a few attractions for granted; but, my 11 year old son really did enjoy this place. It offers a lot of historical info regarding Augusta, the value of the river to the city and citizens, the floods, and one can even take a boat ride up the canal. Worth visiting at least once. Be sure to walk or bicycle the path between the Savannah river & the canal; very pretty and relaxing.

The best understand the history of a place is to experience it first hand. The Augusta Canal Interpretive Center allow you step back in time and experience The canal the way it was. The tour guide was knowledgable and explained it well. The experience is a bit pricey. All things being said it was a good time.

Had a great time learning about how things used to be in Augusta, GA. Lots of fun and interactive exhibits for kids. The canal tour is good fun for a pretty day.

This is located in an old textile mill and gives a good review of the building of the canal and the business that the canal brought to Augusta. It also speaks to the hardships of those people who worked in the mill. Most of the textile industry has gone from the US to sweatshops overseas, but this gives a glimpse of how it was here and the labor improvements mandated by law.

a beautiful building with cool exhibits including a small turbine that when it is ran actually drives a chunk of leather belts and pulleys in the museum. a nice theater with a good story about the area and the beginning of the canal, and some good interpretive and interactive exhibits explaining what is special about the place. A cool way to get some historical background, and a great story about a very courageous group of people who decided they were going to industrialize Augusta using the most logical way available to them. The boat ride is really cool - this is a copy of an old canalboat that used to ply the waterway, and all in all a visit to the museum and the boat ride is even better if you have time to visit the headstock into the canal which has lovely views over the river. Been there several times, enjoyed it every time I've been there. A well maintained museum, lovely staff, a cool boat ride, good tales - what's not to like. Highly recommended - GO!

It is a nice place to visit on a lazy afternoon or rainy weather during the week. You can learn more about Augusta and how important the waterways were in early America. It is pretty much a self guided tour for a nominal fee. It is located on the edge of the downtown area. There is free parking in front and back of the bldg. It is easy to locate, because it is right at the corner of Greene St and 15th street. Bring a camera, good walking shoes and take your time to explore the rest of this renovated original brick bldg.

Need to spend some time walking through this museum and it has some very interesting exhibits. It also has some great gifts options at their museum store

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.

We hit a perfect day in Augusta; dress for an unprotected hour of exposure. Knowledgeable guide explained the history of The Augusta Canal system and some of the flora and fauna. Absolutely get there an hour early and see the short movie AND wander through the superb gallery (and eclectic, charming gift shop) to get your introductory bearings first. Also, I recommend turning on your "maps" program as seeing the orientation between the Savannah River and the canal you navigate. Suitable for kids and those who can traverse 4-5 stairs with a railing, but not for those requiring walkers, wheelchairs, strollers to get onto and off of the boat. We saw turtles, a snake, ducks and ducklings, fish, swallows, and blue heron.

Wonderful tour of the History Musem and a tour down the historic canal tour guide explains when and why the canal was built it was a lovely day and so peacful well worth the tour we have told many of our friends that they should experince this treasure

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

The boat ride and visit to the center was very enlightening. The hydro electric power generated from the raised canals was really inventive. The factories were made to run off the water. This place was truly an amazing manufacturing marvel.

Must take the time to make the trip. The information center and the old mills were fascinating.

Be sure to call in advance to make reservations for the boat tour. The boat takes approx. 40 people and is still roomy. Umbrellas are provided. The tour guide and boat captain were very knowledgeable. There is suppose to be a 15 min movie before you board the boat yet it was broken. Umbrellas are provided on the boat and we needed them - first for the hot sun and then the rain downpour as we approached the end of the tour.

It was raining and we could not take a boat tour but we spent the $4.00 each for a tour of the museum and it was delightful. It really gave us a prospective on the history of Augusta and the part the canals played in the development of the city and the nation.

a very innovative and nicely laid out cultural/historical display in a wonderfully restored old mill adjacent to the canal. the canal boat tour is a plus.

This is great for all ages. The Interpretive Center is very interesting to walk through. The canal was important to Augusta and this is an informative way to learn about it. Sometimes there is someone there working the machines. Do not skip the boat tour of the canal. Very well done. The fee is reasonable.

Very fun and educational. kids through grandpa all enjoyed it. Plenty to do. Boat ride on the canal was awesome too

The one hour, $12.50 canal boat tour includes the interpretive center. You see two or three old buildings and the remaining trip is the sides of grass knolls. The guide gave some information but the talk could have said so much more and made it so much more interesting! Save your money and walk down the path a way along the canal.

This tour is great. Very informative in a casual setting and gives history of area. The basic two hour tour costs $12.50. They also offer tours with different musical venues.The museum there is also interesting.

Nice museum housed in an old textile mill. Great to get an overview of Augusta's history. Exhibits were interesting and gave information on the history of the textile industry in Augusta.

I have lived here for 6 years and I just found out about this place! Seriously, check it out! It's really cool and the ladies that work there are very friendly!

Large international group took this canal tour. The guide was very informative but spoke too much and for too long not allowing interpreters to convey to guests. There should be written info available in multiple languages for the foreign visitors.

A hat and sunscreen are advisable, or use one of the UV umbrellas provided aboard. Our tour guide was very knowledgeable, friendly, and her presentation was not "canned" at all. In addition to operating the electric powered boat, the captain kept our guide apprised of wildlife sitings on the canal (turtles, ducks, and otters) and along the shoreline (roosting water fowl). Allow some time to experience the Discovery Center and watch the movie before or after the boat tour. Clean restrooms and nice cold water fountains are located within the Center. A $2 discount is offered to students (with ID), active military, and seniors (65+).

It is not a destination place where you'd drive hours just to visit, but if you are in town it is well worth a visit. Nicely done and very interesting to learn about the history of Augusta and why the town even exists where it is. I have been to the center several times hosting out of town visitors, yet still find new interesting things. The canal boat trip is also fun to do, even for a local.

Interesting boat ride, with a stop in the middle so you can walk and check out the river/canal intersection. Great interpretation. You can bring a thermos.

Nice lazy ride up and back on the Augusta Canal. Casual tour of the Center is a nice historical outing. Pick a day when the tradesmen are there demonstrating their skills.

We saw the video about the importance of the Augusta Canal, walked through the center, and took a ride on the Augusta Canal. Our guide was excellent and full of information. She answered everything asked of her. I was amazed at her knowledge. We enjoyed the ride seeing the mills and wildlife. The pilot handled the boat very well in narrow places.

The museum is very well done and provides an insight into life during the industrial revolution, with particular emphasis on the cotton industry. The two canal boat recreations provide an enjoyable trip on the Augusta Canal, with local history being provided by a guide.

The interpretive center is very interesting" well organized with many hands-on display, Spacious facility with nice amenities! Clean bathrooms, a gift shop and an informative film, A good experience! Good for families .

Having seen the canal from a bike path and the highway, I wanted to know more. I found the museum located conveniently near the downtown and next to the canal. The "story" one can follow walking through the museum is well told with historical pieces and easily readable and informative storyboards. You can also take a boat ride on the canal that begins just outside the entrance to the museum. If you want to know how the textile industry influenced the history of Augusta, this is the place to stop for a visit.

Fun and educational.. very friendly staff..good family day out boat trips are
excellent too...good place for educational class field trip

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!

Learn about the History of Augusta and some about Georgia while spending time on the water. The guides are very informative and the tour is a good way to spend a hot Augusta Afternoon.

We initially only planned to sleep in Augusta and then continue driving on into South Carolina.

Then we learned about the Augusta Canal and the Augusta Canal Visitor’s Center.

So we planned a 24 hour visit… and we had a blast!


We called the Canal Visitor’s Center and Jeff was a great help the weekend before we left, as he helped guide us around town, shared options on how to best kayak the Augusta Canal, and sharing information about when the museum would be open.

Since our daughter shared interest in the textile mills, as she learned about them in social studies this year, we worked with Jeff to determine that we could leave the night before and get there before closing time on Saturday.

While we left Nashville on time Saturday morning, we lost time in Atlanta traffic; instead of expecting two or so hours to see the mill, we arrived with 30 minutes to spare.

At the Augusta Canal National Heritage Museum, Jeff welcomed us and stayed while we enjoyed the museum! Jeff nicely pointed us first to the movie and then the great exhibits inside.

At the Enterprise Mill they had:
- a movie about its history, about how they built the canal to create power for textile mills, to grow the New South (the South after the Civil War), and to become the Lowell (Massachusetts) of the South; and how it was dug by hand over five years! and how it was ignored after World War II until recently when they renovated it with trails and kayaking/canoeing
- A replica of the canal, including a diorama showing how the hydroelectric power lights the town
- You can see the actual pipe bringing water to generate electricity at the Enterprise Mill
- Exhibits about life in Augusta and in the textile mills
- Old time picture devices
- A working generator showing how the many pulleys and axels in the ceiling now make a ceiling fan spin, and which used to make the many machines run

We walked up to the trail path and watched as the automated machine opened the gate to let more water through It's metal arm was just inches from the power line above it!

Our daughter saw a tiger tail dragonfly and took some awesome pictures of it… a new dragonfly type for us!

Jeff helped us in the gift shop and informed us about the canal, just over the hill/levee outside, and he also informed us about the bell and other things to see outside – staying quite a bit past closing time just for us.

We had a great time just visiting the Visitor’s Center, and also the next day kayaking the Savannah River, all in large part to Jeff being so helpful to us.

Thanks, Jeff, and God bless!

If you get the chance take the river cruise! It's fantastic! The museum is quaint and well taken care of. I would highly recommend it to anyone visiting the area

If you are in the area and have not been here yet, you really should plan to go. The exhibit is amazing and really gives you a feel for Augusta millwork in its day (and other milltowns) as there are actual weaving looms from the mill that now houses the exhibit, apartments and offices.

The Canal ride is educational and relaxing. They built electric replicas of the original Petersburg boats that ferried cotton and other goods up and down the canal. You pass by other empty mills (relics in their own rights, too) and learn a lot about the importance of the Canal before, during and after the Civil War.

All history buffs need to take this boat ride.

Mom notes: very family-friendly, cafe on-site with clean bathrooms, sit-down boat ride on benches along the port and starboard sides, gentle boat ride.

Informative and delightful ride down the river on a beautiful sunny day, what more could you ask for? Guide helped make the trip fun and a great learning experience.

Lived in Augusta all my life and never knew such a neat place existed til I went of field trip with my wife - lots of neat opportunity for family fun or great date opportunities - check them out!

The center showed a slice of life in an emerging Augusta. The best part was seeing the first hearse used by my paternal great grandparents of Dent Funeral Home.

This is a wonderful center for all ages to learn more about many facets of the history of Augusta, the canal, cotton and textile industries. Many hands on exhibits, a film, etc. It is located in a repurposed Textile mill. You can pay extra for a boat ride on the Canal. I've been there for school field trips. We always enjoy going here.

Although a little difficult to find, the search is well worth it. The boat ride was informative historically and visually lovely. The museum is arranged well with interactive exhibits. We will go take the longer Saturday dinner cruise when the weather warms up.

My son and his class went here on a school field trip. It was interesting in that you learn some of Augusta's local history. You learn about how cotton was transported and how the river was used, there is some Civil War history involved as well. The highlight to me was the Canal boat ride. Nice scenic views, quiet and peaceful.

This is a wonderful place to visit if you want to walk through time to learn about the beginnings of Augusta. Don't forget to book a Canal Tour and enjoy a couple of hours with one of the well versed and entertaining Boat Captains!!!

Provides great insight into the textile industry in the area as well as the history of the Augusta canal.
Most recommended is to take a tour by canal boat up to the Savanna Rapids.

We visited the Augusta Canal Interpretive Center for a historic canal boat ride. The center is small, but has lots of information and offered a movie before the boat ride. If you plan on taking the boat trip, there are umbrella's provided for sunshade. We took a 3 year old and a 1 year old and they were a little restless on the ride, but I felt they were safe to go on it. The ride is narrated and full of information that I may not have learned about Augusta otherwise!

Little place but nice. It's an interactive museum so it's fun for any age. A lot of hands on portions. Nice little gift shop as well. Good place to go if you wanna get out of the house.

This was a wonderful birthday gift: viewing the museum while we waited to board the boat. Wonderful photos by others and great souvenirs. I was the only "one" with a life jacket on. The Tour Guides were very informative. Enjoyed it immensely! 10/18/18

If you are interested in a little bit of history about Augusta, this will suit you. We saw the short movie, very interesting and informative. The staff was very friendly. Walked around the Discovery Center and took the boat tour up the canal. Very interesting history behind Augusta and the cotton mills.

Neat history but not really an in depth thing at all. VERY basic.

We visited the center on June 22nd. You have to look for the sign of the Enterprise Mill and park your car free on the right side of the building.
You have the possibility to visit only the center or to combine it with a boattrip on the canal.
When you pay your fee, ask immediately when there is place in the next boat. The boattrip starts only at 9AM, 10:15AM, 11:30AM and at 13:30PM. The last one is about the Civil War and the others tell about the Canal and the different bridges, houses and animals you pass.
There are umbrellas on board.
The interpretive center is not that big, but it gives you an interactive images of the different parts of the canal.

We learned a lot about the history of the area. It rained the day we visited so we did not take the boat ride which I think would have added a lot to our experience.

This is a pretty good value for the buck. If you go on the boat tour, you get the museum included. I think the tour guide Lynne was incredibly informative and very funny and if you take the civil war tour you learn a large amount about why Augusta was so important during the civil war. The museum was discussing the former cotton mill that was there. It was pretty cool.

So there are several different parts to the canal discovery center. We entered at the Lake Olmstead trail head. Cross a bridge and go to the aqueduct park. There are plenty of signs to direct you. We loved it! The waterfall is easy to get to and easy to climb. There are clean bathrooms right at the beginning and shout out to the sheriff's department for having an officer there. It makes every one feel just a little safer knowing if you need something help is close by.

The canal interpretive center provides an interesting and well produced account of the history and culture of the Mill era in Augusta. The canal tour is also very interesting and a lot of fun to do. A great place to bring out of town guests this visit.

Enjoyed the boat ride. Learned a lot about the canal and old mills along the canal. Went on early tour before it was too hot.

Be sure to visit, for a great trip through the canal and to learn about the canal history. Allow time to walk through the canal exibits and pick up a schedule of their special events I wish we lived closer. The restoration of this great piece of history is amazing!

My little girl was looking for adventure! I decided we need to take the canal tour! This is a special heritage of Augusta & now it is a National Park. We walk the tow path and visit the beautiful head gates. I thought we need to ride down the canal & see where the hydro power is still produced for the city of Augusta. The film taught us about the life & times in Augusta. The heritage center in Enterprise Mill is restored just like it would of been in the time period of the building. We saw all kinds of wildlife on the Petersburg boat they use for the canal tour. We toured in December & it was a beautiful day! Also, they have a great gift shop! We bought some Christmas gifts too!

We came here because the weather was so beautiful and we wanted to learn about the canal. So we did the boat tour first before seeing the movie. We should have done the reverse. Although the tour was fantastic, I think we would have gotten more out of it if we saw the movie first. This is definitely a must do item if you are in Augusta.

Had gone to for a cruise on boat.Toor was professionally conducted.Nice boat ride with good scenery.Guide provided good overview and history.

A great place for families. Don't pass on watching the movie. It gives you the background for the Discovery Center. You can touch and feel the exhibits!

The Center was a little tricky to find. We had our National Park Service Passports stamped and then walked up to see the canal. It was a very interesting visit. Unfortunately, we didn't have time to see the film or the center. The lady at the desk could have used some interpersonal skills but other than that, it was a nice visit.

My 10 year old son and I visited the center on a day out of school. I chose the Center as a educational field trip. There was a minimal charge per person. The introductory video was enlightening. It gave factual and letting information about the Augusta Canal and the Augusta Area. The canal worker was not friendly and it appeared we were more of a bother. We visited around lunch time and the center was empty. My son really enjoyed the interactive aspects of the Center. There is a moderately priced gift shop located within the Center. Be sure to go outside and walk along the Canal and experience some of the other historical markers. I would visit again in anticipation of better customer service.

Nice tour and visitation for the entire family. The museum was interesting as was the boat tour. And relatively inexpensive.Offers military and senior citizen discounts.Very friendly staff.

We went for the river boat tour and it had been cancelled for the day because it had been lightly drizzling. Very disappointed. The old bldg was neat though.

Very informative and interesting. Will come back for canal tour in future. History of textiles and water power is great.

We had hoped to go on a canal ride, but due to all the school excursions we couldn't. We walked through the free section of the center and learned a lot about the canal and its impact on Augusta.

We took the boat tour which was very informative, lots of interesting history. The Discovery Center had a lot of well done displays. Better to do the morning boat ride if it is hot. Bring sunscreen and a hat!

Wonderful museum which is free with boat tour which I highly recommend. Exhibits were very informative and interactive. Definitely worth a visIt!

Like all the museums and gallerys it has little to no tourist draw.The city is stupid for not making this area a tourist mecca.

This museum provides an interesting look at the history of the Augusta Canal. There are plenty of interactive displays that should appear to both adults and children. It even is a working powerplant, so you get to learn a little science too.

Come early if you are taking the Canal cruise and browse thru the museum. Lots of interesting facts and several well done exhibits. It does not require a lot of time, but it makes you appreciate the cruise more.

There is free parking in the building complex. This museum is found where you sign up for boat tours of the canal. The basic admission charge is $6 with some discounts available. This is thorough history of the Augusta Canal and its impact on the city. There is a short introductory film. There are many maps, models, biographies, informational boards, and artifacts. I did not take the boat tour. There is a gift shop.

The Augusta Canal tour was awesome. It was educational and relaxing. I am from Augusta and I learned some things that I didn't know about Augusta. I saw somethings I never seen before. We saw a lot of wildlife on the canal tour. The boat that we traveled on was very well kept. The tour guide was well informed. We traveled under many bridges. These were bridges that I have traveled across all of my life in Augusta. I really enjoyed the tour. When you do the Augusta Canal Tour wear you hat and shades. We did it in July. I want to come back in October to see how the leaves have changed.
After the Canal tour we did the museum which was awesome. Very Informative. I love the museum as much as the tour.

The ride down the canal was very educational and so relaxing, so nice to ride and get a close up of some of the nature in our area.The Musuem is really great to see and take.I had my Granddaughter and She was really excited about the ride,so the Musuem did not interest her.I think that part is great for older Children.The price is very fair,and the Man that piloted the boat and the Lady that did all the narrorating were wonderful.I took some beautiful pics and had the best ride.Do not wear flip flops are sandals.There is water and you have to be careful not to slip...

Walk through the museum and learn about the history of the Augusta Canal and then take a boat ride along the canal!

They have electric boats that tour the canal, which was built in the 1800s to power the textile mills. The tour we took lasted an hour and described why the canal was built and its importance to the civil war.

Adult Ministries road trip to Augusta.
This discovery center was very interesting. Watching 245 school kids learn, play, listen, laugh and have fun. I learned about how important Augusta was during the civil war. How the canal was built and many more things. It was fun doing this before out canal boat tour. This is a great place to take kids and grandkids.