Donna McNeely drove from Thomson on Saturday just to see the gingerbread houses on display at the Augusta Museum of History.

"I love this. It's unreal. I don't know how they did it," she said.

The 18 gingerbread structures had to be created entirely out of food and were based on historic structures in the area.

Ms. McNeely was interested in the Rock House because it's in Thomson, she said.

Her 8-year-old daughter, Maci, liked the first-place selection, Jennifer Mooney's rendering of Williams Antiques in Waynesboro, Ga. The back of Ms. Mooney's house was open like a doll house and allowed patrons to see the furnishings and decor.

"It has a toilet," said Maci.

Other buildings reproduced in gingerbread, gum, frosting and candies include Sacred Heart Cultural Center, the Boyhood Home of Woodrow Wilson, First Presbyterian Church and the Cotton Exchange.

The judging criteria included overall appearance, originality, creativity, precision, difficulty and consistency with the historic theme.

"This is our main fundraiser for the year," said Heather Sellers, the museum's education manager.

The houses will be on display in the museum's rotunda through Sunday and will be sold to the highest bidders in the silent auction. There is also a people's choice award. Museum visitors will be able to cast a ballot for their favorite structure.

Nancy Karp, was another museum patron who visited to see the gingerbread creations.

"I'm getting ideas," she said. "It's really amazing. They are really wonderful."

While people viewed the gingerbread houses downstairs, there was a storytime in the upper level and a children's craft. Children decorated foam gingerbread men or colored.

Reach Charmain Brackett at charmain.brackett@augustachronicle.com.