31 Jul 2017 AUGUSTA CANAL – JESSYE NORMAN AMPHITHEATER
The U.S. Congress designated The Augusta Canal as a National Heritage Area.
Government Consolidation Occurs : Following an election in 1995, in 1996 the city of Augusta (the county seat) consolidated governments with Richmond County. The consolidated entity became known as Augusta-Richmond County, or simply Augusta.
4/16/1996: The grand opening of the Riverwalk Amphitheater and Plaza named in honor of Jessye Norman, internationally acclaimed opera star, born in Augusta, Georgia on 9/15/1945, took place.
6/1996: Augusta Tomorrow, Inc. met with South Augusta Pride Progress to work together to start bringing improvements to South Augusta similar to the development happening in downtown Augusta. Several commissioners asked Augusta Tomorrow, Inc. to assist South Richmond County put together a development plan and apply some of the successful initiatives that had been used for urban planning and redevelopment to South Richmond County. Up to this point, a plan was not in place, the residents were frustrated, there was urban blight and Regency Mall had closed. Augusta Tomorrow, Inc. board members contributed $5,000 toward this effort.