
Voices of the Past is a series of character monologues that brings to life the stories of ordinary and extraordinary people from the Augusta area performed by local actors. Visitors are invited to travel back in time through interactive, personal stories of local historical figures.
The presentations, which are scheduled each Saturday, are free with Museum admission. Visitors are invited to travel back in time through interactive, personal stories of local historical figures. A different figure will be highlighted each Saturday, performances take place in the Museum at 12:30, 1:30, & 2:30.
1st Saturday - The Other Tubmans: Emily and William
The character in The Other Tubmans tells a story that explains the connection between slaves freed in the 1830's by Emily Tubman and William Tubman, who served as Liberia, Africa's longest running President from 1944-1971.
2nd Saturday - Petersburg Boat Captain
The character of the Petersburg Boat Pilot, is based on oral histories provided by Elberton, Georgia resident, Mr. 'Buck' Balchin, about his grandfather, James Henry Balchin, who from the mid-nineteenth century until 1900, crewed and piloted cotton boats from Petersburg to Augusta.
3rd Saturday - Augusta Civil Rights Activist
Instead of portraying a specific person, the Augusta Civil Rights Activist is a conglomerate of many different people, representative of the Black Augustans who took part in the local Civil Rights Movement. The character is a Paine College student remembering Jim Crow Augusta and training for the H.L. Green Department Store Lunch counter sit-ins in downtown Augusta in 1960. This is an interactive presentation in which visitors are encouraged to participate in a demonstration and sing protest songs.