Columbus sits at the southeastern United States’ fall line, a geological boundary marked by rapid changes in elevation. Near rivers, this natural feature results in rapids that southern entrepreneurs have sought to harness for more than 200 years.

Georgia’s fall line cuts the state nearly in half, running from Augusta south through Macon and Columbus. The effects of this feature generated economic and cultural similarities that continue to be seen today, even as each city sought to forge its own path.

Georgia’s Fall Line spotlights Georgia’s Fall Line cities, highlighting the key role that manufacturing, textile mills, and the U.S. military played in each community, as well as the importance of trade and transportation networks in economic development. Once seen only as industrial cities, the exhibition situates Georgia’s Fall Line communities and their contributions within the state’s broader history. In addition to spotlighting The Columbus Museum’s collection, it features objects and images from institutions throughout the state such as the Augusta Museum of History, the Morris Museum of Art, and the Middle Georgia Archives.

This project is supported by Georgia Humanities, in partnership with the Georgia Department of Economic Development, through funding from the Georgia General Assembly.