1. Mockingbird Hill Is The Tiniest Neighborhood On Central Avenue
Augusta has a teeny-tiny secret that’s been a big deal for more than half a century: the miniature houses of Mockingbird Hill. In the 1950s, firefighters of Engine Company No. 6 spent their free time creating this tiny, exquisitely detailed village for the community’s enjoyment, complete with a grist mill, houses, and a church that boasted beautiful stained-glass windows.
Mockingbird Hill, as it was known to the locals, did not receive proper upkeep, and the village was removed in 2006, due to the expansion of the Highland Avenue water treatment plant. However, the city remembered the joy Mockingbird Hill brought to the residents, and as part of the plant’s opening, reproductions of all the original structures were installed back on the hillside where they belong.
2. Augusta Has The World’s Only James Brown Cam
James Brown grew up in Augusta, and he loved his hometown: he bought the local radio station, was known for giving out money and presents to children when he came back for a visit, and retired just across the river.
He adored the town and its people so much that the James Brown cam was set up to honor his legacy: the Greater Augusta Arts Council commissioned a life-size bronze statue of James Brown on Broad Street. Pose with him, and you don’t even have to take a selfie: you just send a text message, and the built-in cam snaps the picture for you and sends it right to your cell phone.
3. You're Never Going To Be Able To Chug From This Solo Cup
Originally a Dixie Cup, then a Sweetheart Cup, and now a Dart Cup, the Big Paper Cup Sculpture has been attached to the side of the small paper cup manufacturer on Wrightsboro Road for years.
4. Other Cities Have Haunted Houses, Augusta Has A Haunted Pillar
Augusta can boast its very own cursed...pillar. The ten-foot-tall cement-covered brick pillar is the only remaining piece of a farmer’s market from the 1800s. Local legend has it that the pillar was cursed by a street preacher, who was forbidden from preaching in front of the market. In his anger, the itinerant preacher swore the building would be brought down, and that only a single pillar would be left standing, which no one should touch.
Not long after, the market was in fact destroyed by a tornado, leaving nothing but the single column standing: the tradition holds that if anyone is so bold as to touch the pillar, they will die soon after. However, given the number of pictures people take hugging the pillar, its potency appears to have diminished some with time.
5. But Don’t Worry, There Are Haunted Houses, Too
Augusta State University has its share of hauntings: some say there are up to eight ghosts that walk the campus. One particularly favorite spirit is Emily Galt, a young woman who supposedly took her life in the building in the 1860s. Her name and the date are etched into one of the building’s window panes, and Emily allegedly did the engraving herself with her diamond engagement ring shortly before her death.
Emily and her fiance had an argument about his leaving for the war: she wished he wouldn’t, but he felt it was his duty. However, he was killed in battle, and she was so distraught that she allegedly threw herself from the upstairs window of Bellevue Hall.
Today, students, faculty, and staff all report strange behavior in the hall: the television starts on and off by itself, the phones behave peculiarly, and every once in a while, a young man and woman are heard arguing, but no one is ever found.
6. The Grave Of This Superstitious Gambler Is Locked Up Tight
In a city as historic as Augusta, there’s bound to be some strange spots in the city’s oldest graveyard. The most impressive of these is the tale of Wylly Barron, who was an unrepentant—and deeply superstitious—gambler. Late one night in the 1860’s, Wylly won a hand (he had a habit of doing so), and the loser was furious. He set a curse upon Wylly, telling him that when Wylly died, he should not even have a grave to shelter him. This proved to be the man’s final wish, and it terrified Wylly.
Though he never gave up gambling, the experience did lead him to donate large sums to several charities and to construct a mausoleum for himself in Magnolia Cemetery—while he was still a young man in excellent health. He was so scared of the gambler’s curse, in fact, that he demanded in his will that his body be placed in the vault, sealed up, and the key thrown straight into the Savannah River. Today, the tomb is still there, the only mausoleum in this cemetery (or possibly any cemetery) with no door in sight, and no key for the keyhole.
7. You'll Have To Do Some Detective Work To Dine On DiChicko's Delicacies
It’s easy not to notice DiChicko’s, but it would also be a big mistake to leave town without trying their famous sandwiches, sauces, and smoothies. Located inside the New Life Natural Foods market, the restaurant, which has limited seating, is a bit hidden from view, but that doesn’t mean it’s unheralded: in 2012, the little eatery was appropriately voted “Best Undiscovered Restaurant,” by Augusta magazine.
8. The Butt Memorial Bridge Is No Joke
While the bridge itself is hard to miss—being large, ornate, and decorated with lions and eagles—you might easily pass over it without knowing its name, which evokes an eighth-grade-humor giggle from tourists and residents alike.
The bridge is actually named in honor of one of the city’s heroes: Major Archibald Butt, an aide-to-camp to Presidents Roosevelt and Taft, who gave his life helping to save the lives of others in the Titanic disaster. However, in the years since 1912, the city has grown a bit of a sense of humor about the bridge, and even started a “Save Our Butt” campaign when the Department of Transportation considered demolishing the historic structure.
9. An Attorney’s Office On Telfair Street Hides A Piece Of African-American History
A piece of African-American history lies hidden on Telfair Street: the home of Amanda Dickson, the wealthiest African-American woman of the 19th century. Amanda was the child of a slave and her master, and although this was highly unusual for the era, she received the upbringing of a young lady of status and was clearly the apple of her parents’ eyes.
Her father, David Dickson, left her the majority of his estate in his will, which was contested by his white relatives. Amanda Dickson was undeterred, however, and fought for her inheritance all the way to the Georgia Supreme Court. She won, but even before the ruling, she bought the home on Telfair Street. The house is now an attorney’s office and not open to the public.
10. There’s An Art Gallery Inside The Old Sacred Heart Church
From the outside, Sacred Heart is quite clearly a large and impressive Catholic church. Built in 1897, the church is among the most impressive cultural landmarks in the city. However, it was nearly destroyed: after most of the congregation left in the 1960s and early 1970s for the suburbs, the church was abandoned and suffered vandalism.
In the late ‘80s, however, the city renovated the building, and the old church is now open to the whole city for a variety of cultural events, from wine festivals to the center’s art gallery, which features local artists.
11. This Out-of-the-way Bike Mural Is Beloved By Locals
There’s quite a bit of public art to see around Augusta—including the recently painted mural on the Rosa T. Beard memorial bridge—but one smaller, out-of-the-way piece is the Bike Mural in the Green Street Historic District, a piece of unscheduled art that is much beloved by locals.
12. The Abandoned Miller Theater Conceals A Grand Past
In 1940, the Miller Theater was one of the grandest theaters in Georgia. Done in the Arte Moderne style, the impressive space was a jewel of the city, hosting stars like Katherine Hepburn, before it was forced to close in the 1980’s.
Sitting vacant ever since, the theater has fallen into disrepair, and images of the once-resplendent interior are haunting. The theater was purchased in 2005, and some of the damage has been repaired, but it is still a long way from use.
13. Don’t Miss The Hot Mustard At Hildebrandt’s Deli
This store has been in business since 1879, which means it’s probably got a thing or two going for it. The small business is homey and warm, with newspaper clippings, old pictures, and maps covering the walls.
Part antique shop, part deli, the business purveys truly delicious, classic deli-style sandwiches—don’t skip their famous hot mustard—and offers lots of information about local lore and events. Located right by the Savannah River, this is the best place to get a sandwich for a quick picnic near the water.
Did we miss anything? Tell us your favorite secret spot in Augusta in the comments below! 
