Information
Landmark: Lucy Craft Laney MuseumCity: Augusta
Country: USA Georgia
Continent: North America
Lucy Craft Laney Museum, Augusta, USA Georgia, North America
Overview
At 1116 Phillips Street in Augusta, Georgia, the Lucy Craft Laney Museum of Black History keeps alive the stories, triumphs, and contributions of African Americans, spotlighting the powerful legacy of Lucy Craft Laney - an educator and civil rights leader whose voice once rang clear in crowded classrooms.Founded in 1991, the museum stands as the Central Savannah River Area’s only African American museum, a vibrant hub of Augusta’s cultural heritage where neighbors gather and stories come alive.Lucy Craft Laney came into the world in 1854 in Macon, Georgia, just a few years before the Civil War’s rumble began.Though the Reconstruction era brought crushing social and economic hurdles, Laney rose to prominence as a trailblazer in African American education and empowerment, opening classroom doors where the scent of chalk still clung to the air.In 1883, she opened the Haines Normal and Industrial Institute in Augusta, where students learned their ABCs alongside skills like carpentry and sewing.Her school broke new ground, opening Augusta’s first kindergarten for African American children and launching the city’s first nursing program for Black women-rooms once quiet now filled with the sound of chalk on slate.Laney’s influence reached far past the classroom, touching lives in countless unexpected ways.She championed civil rights and pushed for community growth, working day and night to lift the social and economic prospects of African Americans in the South, even walking dusty back roads to meet with local families.In 1930, Dr.Mordecai Johnson, president of Howard University, honored her with the title “Mother of the Children of the People,” a distinction that brought her national acclaim.Laney died in 1933, and her house on Phillips Street stayed in the family for decades, its porch still catching the afternoon sun.But in 1986, a fire tore through the place, leaving blackened beams and charred walls behind.Determined to honor Laney’s legacy and safeguard the region’s African American history, the Augusta Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., working through its nonprofit arm, Delta House, Inc., bought the old house and brought it back to life, polishing its worn wooden floors until they shone.In 1991, the doors opened to the Lucy Craft Laney Museum of Black History, turning the old home’s creaking floors and sunlit rooms into a place devoted to learning and preserving culture.The museum sits inside Lucy Craft Laney’s historic home, its wood floors polished smooth and every room restored to capture the building’s original charm while still serving the needs of a modern museum.The building stands as a solid bridge to the past, where visitors can step inside, feel the worn wooden floors, and connect both heart and mind to Laney’s life and work.Inside the museum, carefully crafted galleries lead you past artifacts, faded photographs, handwritten letters, and glowing screens, each telling a vivid story of African American history in Augusta and far beyond.Saving the home and turning it into a museum is part of a larger push to protect African American historic sites-places like this, with creaky floorboards and stories etched into the walls, that too often go overlooked in preservation work.At the Lucy Craft Laney Museum, you’ll find permanent displays alongside changing exhibits that delve into many sides of Black history and culture, weaving in Augusta’s local stories with the larger tale of African American struggles and victories-like a faded photograph of a 1920s classroom tucked inside a glass case.Among the permanent highlights is the Lucy Craft Laney Exhibition, where visitors can explore her life story, discover her bold approach to education, and see how her work shaped the community-right down to the old books she once taught from.You’ll find her keepsakes here-worn letters, faded photographs, and papers that tell the story of her victories and the struggles she faced.The Pilgrim Health and Life Insurance Exhibition highlights one of the region’s first African American-owned insurers, a company that helped drive Black economic empowerment and offered security when few others would.The exhibit explores the company’s past and shows why it matters to the local Black community, from its humble first storefront to its lasting influence today.The Augusta Ebony Legacy Collection honors remarkable African American figures from the city, shining a light on the music, speeches, and bold actions that shaped Augusta’s cultural, political, and social life.Beyond its regular displays, the museum often puts on special shows and events-like the Women’s History Exhibit, colorful quilt displays, and the Rosa T. The Beard Debutante Club exhibition honors the history of a cherished cultural institution in the Black community, with portraits and vintage satin gloves that carry its story through time.Education and community involvement sit at the heart of the museum’s mission, bringing people together like a warm evening lecture under the grand oak in the courtyard.The museum runs programs for all ages-kids, parents, and grandparents alike-aimed at sparking a deeper appreciation for African American heritage.One standout is the Golden Blocks Tour, a walk or virtual journey through 33 historic sites in Augusta’s Laney-Walker district, where brick sidewalks carry the stories of a vibrant community.The tour brings the district’s rich history to life, showing visitors why it’s woven so deeply into the city’s culture and daily rhythms-like the scent of fresh bread drifting from a century-old bakery.Black Caddies – Men on the Bag: This hands-on program celebrates the legacy of African American golf caddies who shaped Augusta’s history, from guiding players under sweltering Georgia sun to lending their skill and insight at the famed Masters Tournament.The Community Luncheon Series offers a hearty, heart-healthy meal each month, along with guest speakers who dive into timely issues and rich historical stories that matter to the African American community.Children’s Academy welcomes kids ages 6 to 12 with summer and winter camps, lively field trips, and hands-on leadership activities that spark pride and deepen their understanding of African American history.At the Lucy Craft Laney Museum, visitors step into an inviting space where vivid historical exhibits mingle with lively community programs, making the experience both engaging and educational.From Tuesday to Saturday, the museum runs guided tours at set times, and they recommend booking ahead-there’s nothing like stepping into the cool, echoing gallery with your spot already secured.The museum’s offices open six days a week, ready to help with questions, directions, or anything else visitors and neighbors might need.The admission prices are set to stay fair and welcoming, with reduced rates for seniors, military members, families, and kids - even the ticket booth sign spells it out in bright red letters.Preschoolers get in free, and so do members of the Southeastern Museums Conference-no ticket needed at the door.You’ll find the Lucy Craft Laney Museum at 1116 Phillips Street in Augusta, Georgia, 30901.Tours run Tuesday through Saturday at 10:30, 11:30, and 2:30-best to reserve ahead.The administrative office is open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Admission’s $7 for adults, $5 for seniors 62+, military, or families with an authorized ID, $3 for youth ages 4–17, and free for preschoolers and SEMC members.Call (706) 724‑3576 for details.
