The Arts & Heritage Center of North Augusta has created an original exhibit about “The Story of Hamburg: SC’s Lost Town” that will open to the public on June 21, 2021, and it will be on display through August 20th. There will be a reception and program on July 15th, 5:00 p.m.. South Carolina Humanities supported this program with a Mini Grant.
Hamburg is a ghost town located in part of what is now North Augusta. In the 1800s, it was a thriving market town and home to the largest inland port in South Carolina. Its importance declined after the completion of the Augusta canal and the subsequent growth on that side of the river. After the Civil War, Hamburg was repopulated by freedmen. It is notorious as the site of the Hamburg Massacre of 1876, which resulted in the murders of 6 black men.
“The Story of Hamburg: SC’s Lost Town” will examine this rich history through 10 panels that chronicle the founding of the town, the industry, the people, and its demise, as well as through several artifacts, including a model of the Hamburg Depot. The creation of the exhibit coincides with the publication of a book prepared by the Arts & Heritage Center of North Augusta about Hamburg.
The mission of The Arts and Heritage Center of North Augusta is to provide an educational venue to showcase and promote the arts and regional history. The Arts and Heritage Center is open Monday – Friday, 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Learn more: https://www.artsandheritagecenter.com/.
The mission of SC Humanities is to enrich the cultural and intellectual lives of all South Carolinians. Established in 1973, this 501(c) 3 organization is governed by a volunteer 20-member Board of Directors comprised of community leaders from throughout the state. It presents and/or supports literary initiatives, lectures, exhibits, festivals, publications, oral history projects, videos and other humanities-based experiences that directly or indirectly reach more than 250,000 citizens annually.