Arts and Heritage Center of North Augusta

Located inside the City of North Augusta Municipal Building, the Arts and Heritage Center of North Augusta serves as a gateway into the region through interpretation and visitor services. The Center is dedicated to the exhibition of regional arts and history with a 2,300 sq ft permanent interactive history exhibit and two galleries of exhibits which rotate every two months. The Center’s Gift Shop showcases local crafts ranging from pottery and paintings to coffee and chocolate.

Open Monday – Friday 10am to 4pm. View our Calendar for current art exhibits and special events.

Free and open to the public.

History

The Arts and Heritage Center of North Augusta is a partner in the South Carolina National Heritage Corridor, a nonprofit organization dedicated to developing and promoting the natural, cultural and historic resources of this federally designated National Heritage Area. As part of this partnership, the AHCNA has ownership of regional history exhibits which interpret the history of Aiken, Bamberg, Barnwell and Orangeburg counties.

These permanent exhibits walk you through the history of the region starting with the Early Settlements which includes a hands-on component where visitors can touch animal pelts that the early traders would have sold. It continues with the Railroads that were crucial to our area as well as the Civil War, with several interactive exhibits, including the experiences of a Civil War soldier. It finishes with the important industries in the area (new and old) and Recreation and Leisure, which covers golf and baseball history and local parks. This exhibit features three “trolley cars” with exhibit panels and touch-screen interactive kiosks that highlight local SCNHC heritage sites.

Art

The Center has two dedicated art exhibit spaces, one on the main floor and the other on the balcony accessible by the elevator located just outside the center. The exhibits showcase the artisans and history of the region. Most of the exhibits rotate every 6 to 8 weeks. Several annual art shows are held throughout the year, including Artists of Color (January-February), North Augusta Cultural Arts Council’s Spring Fest (March), North Augusta Cultural Arts Council’s Student Art Show (May), and North Augusta Artists Guild Show and Sale (November – December).

Shop

The Center’s tax free Gift Shop is full of wonderfully crafted art from local and South Carolina artists. You can find a variety of items, including pottery, preserves, photography, paintings, jewelry and hand carved items. If you can imagine it, chances are there is a local craftsperson who has created it. Other items in the gift shop include books that cover the history of North Augusta, SC, Hamburg, SC Aiken County and many baseball legends. They also sell North Augusta postcards with scenes taken by local photographers.