Courtesy of FOX54 News
Sunday Ely
Feb 4, 2026 Updated Feb 5, 2026
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AUGUSTA, Ga. — Black history in Augusta isn’t confined to textbooks — it’s preserved, celebrated and shared at the Lucy Craft Laney Museum of Black History.
During Black History Month, the museum is highlighting the legacy of Lucy Craft Laney, one of Georgia’s most influential educators, and the generations of leaders who followed in her footsteps.
“Lucy Laney was truly a once-in-a-lifetime figure,” said Corey Rogers, executive director of the Lucy Craft Laney Museum of Black History.
In the late 1800s, Laney founded the Haines Normal and Industrial Institute, creating educational opportunities for Black students who had long been denied access to formal schooling. Her impact extended beyond education. Laney also helped establish the Lamar School of Nursing, expanding access to medical training and contributing to the foundation of Augusta’s health care community.
One of the most prominent acknowledgments of Laney’s legacy sits inside the museum — a replica of a portrait that still holds a place in Georgia history.
In August 1974, then-Gov. Jimmy Carter approved the placement of Laney’s portrait in the Georgia State Capitol, making her one of the first Black women honored in that space. The original portrait, created by artist George Mandes, remains on display in the Capitol alongside other historic figures, including Henry McNeal Turner and the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.
The museum also highlights the stories behind many names familiar to Augusta residents — individuals whose legacies live on through local schools and institutions.
Among them is Dr. T.W. Josey, a medical doctor and early leader whose name now belongs to Josey High School.
“We hired the best of the best,” Rogers said. “And one of those individuals that Pilgrim hired early on was their medical director — Dr. T.W. Josey. Thomas Walter Josey. He was an M.D., and he is the namesake of Josey High School.”
Rogers said the museum’s mission is to connect the past to the present, showing how Black excellence, resilience and community leadership continue to shape the CSRA.
The Lucy Craft Laney Museum of Black History is located at the corner of Laney-Walker Boulevard in Augusta and is open daily. Admission is $7 for adults, $5 for seniors and $3 for children.
