I wasn't a history buff in school, but I've come to realize how important it is to learn about the past.
Perhaps you've lived here for years or maybe even your entire life, but you'd like to learn more about Augusta's history.
On Aug. 14, an event at Augusta Common will provide a free history lesson. From 7 to 10 p.m., The Ties That Bind: The Augusta Commons will feature free screenings of Britton Bagwell's The Augusta Commons and Mark Albertin's Augusta Remembers.
The Augusta Commons developed out of a series of back porch debates that centered on the multitude of barriers that appear to divide Augusta: racial, political, economic, educational, geographic and generational. He translated those conversations into a film project.
Augusta Remembers has aired on Georgia Public Television.
The documentary features more than 20 oral histories, including memories of the fire that destroyed downtown in 1916, major floods and corrupt government.
Want to learn more about local history? Museums are great places for low-cost history lessons.
AUGUSTA MUSEUM OF HISTORY, 560 Reynolds St., (706) 722-8454: The museum is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and 1 to 5 p.m. on Sunday.
Admission is $4 for adults, $3 for seniors, $2 for children (ages 6 to 18) and free for ages 5 and younger.
In August, the museum will present Dollar Dog Days and offer $1 admission.
AIKEN COUNTY HISTORICAL MUSEUM, 433 Newberry St. S.W., (803) 642-2015: The museum is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and 2 to 5 p.m. on Sunday. Admission is free.
THE LAUREL AND HARDY MUSEUM, 250 N. Louisville St., Harlem, (706) 556-0401: The museum is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Admission is free. Donations are accepted.
LUCY CRAFT LANEY MUSEUM OF BLACK HISTORY, 1116 Phillips St., (706) 724-3576: The museum is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday.
Admission is $5 for adults, $3 for seniors and $2 for children.
The museum is participating in the Blue Star Museums program, which is offering free admission to museums for all active-duty military personnel and up to five immediate family members through Labor Day, Sept. 6.
More than 800 museums across the nation are participating in the program, including these local museums:
HICKORY HILL, 502 Hickory Hill Drive, Thomson, (706) 595-7777. Call ahead for availability. Admission is $3 for adults, $2 for seniors and $1 for children ages 5 to 17.
ROBERT TOOMBS HOUSE HISTORIC SITE, 216 E. Robert Toombs Ave., Washington, Ga., (706) 678-2226: The museum is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Admission is $3 for adults and $2 for children.
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