Celebrating James Brown is an easy tradition for an Augustan. Our city is full of soul music, soul food and soulful ways to celebrate the birthplace of the Godfather of Soul. Add a little funk into your day by experiencing our James Brown history. 

 

Visit the James Brown Exhibit 

Interactive kiosks at the Augusta Museum of History highlight the often imitated, but never duplicated, sound of Browns horn-driven funk music and enable exhibit visitors to experience his musical evolution as a singer, composer, and performer. His remarkable legacy is told through oral histories of musicians, politicians, and entertainers. Items featured in the exhibit include: 

  • An array of costumes and personal artifacts worn by Brown from the 1960s and on
  • A King of Soul crown worn by Brown in the 1950s
  • Family photos with candid images of Brown and his children, on tour, at home, and during philanthropic activities
  • Programs from the three James Brown Memorial Services held in New York, Augusta, and South Carolina
  • Audio-visual stations featuring concert performance footage, highlighted tracks and studio recordings
  • Excerpts of interviews with individuals who owe influence to Brown 

 

Soul Starts Here 

Augusta is proud to have played such an important role in the life of a world-renowned musical artist and is grateful Mr. Brown called Augusta home. As you journey through our funky sidewalks, you will walk where Mr. Brown walked and stand where he stood. We hope you enjoy this soul-city journey and feel THE groove of Augusta's most famous son. Soul Starts Here.

On this point-of-interest tour, you will visit the following historic locations from the life of the Godfather of Soul: the Bell Auditorium, the James Brown Arena, the Imperial Theatre, the site of James Brown's childhood home, site of the Lenox Theatre, site of The Boss radio station, the Augusta Museum of History, the James Brown statue, Mother Trinity CME Church, and the iconic Soul Bar.

 

 

Take the James Brown Family Historical Tour 

The James Brown Family Historical Tours run once a week on Saturdays from 11 a.m. until 12:45 p.m. The tour begins at the Augusta Museum of History. Along with a guide, the bus tour visit sites that are significant to the history of James Brown growing up and living in Augusta. Highlights include such sites as the elementary school that James Brown attended, the home where he lived as a child, businesses he owned, the James Brown Statue, the James Brown Arena and much more! Patrons also get the opportunity to see the largest exhibit of his memorabilia at the Augusta Museum of History following the tour.

 

Take the James Brown Mural Tour 

Local artists capture the life and legacy of the Godfather of Soul with murals throughout the city dedicated to him.

First Stop: Artist Cole Phail captured the full essence of the Godfather of Soul with a 75-foot beautiful mural dedicated to the life and career of James Brown. 

Second Stop: "This is a man's world, this is a man's world...but it wouldn't be nothing, nothing without a woman or a girl." This famous lyric comes to life with a large pink mural...the perfect addition to any selfie by local artists Leonard 'Porkchop' Zimmerman and Jay Jacobs.