Augusta Cotton Exchange Building, Augusta, GA, listed on the NRHP in Georgia
The Augusta Cotton Exchange Building is a historic commercial structure built in 1886 in Augusta as a dedicated space for buying and selling cotton. The red-brick building features large windows for natural light, Victorian architectural details, and offices on upper floors with a trading floor below.
The building was constructed in 1886 after trading members raised funds through bond sales to establish a dedicated trading space. It peaked in the early 1900s with over 200 members but closed for trading in 1964 due to damage from pests and the rise of synthetic fabrics.
The building served as a gathering place where men from different backgrounds met to conduct business and socialize, reflecting how cotton trade shaped community life in Augusta. Its design shows how work and leisure were intertwined in the daily rhythms of the local merchant class.
The building is located downtown at the corner of Eighth and Reynolds streets, within walking distance of other historic sites in the area. Visitors can view its exterior architecture and explore the surroundings, with the downtown historic district offering several nearby attractions.
Workers discovered a hidden blackboard roughly 45 feet long during renovation, containing original cotton prices and trading notes from the early 1900s. This rare find offers a window into the daily trading operations and economic conditions of a bygone era.
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