Above: The description for this photograph, taken in May 1938, reads, "August, Ga. - The Casino - Julian Smith Park - built by the WPA is used by the community for group entertainments." Note the WPA sign near the middle of the building. Photo courtesy of the National Archives.
Above: A closer look at the WPA sign from the previous photo.
Above: The Julian Smith Casino today. The building is not a gambling casino, but instead utilizes a more general definition of the word "casino," to indicate a social gathering place. According to the Augusta Chronicle newspaper, the building has hosted many events, including a "rehearsal by the Godfather of Soul, James Brown, high school dances and countless first meetings of couples who remain married to this day" ("Building preserves memories," April 6, 2006). Photo courtesy of the Augusta city government.
Above: WPA workers constructing the Julian Smith Casino, September, 1936. Julian Smith was a mayor of Augusta, Georgia in the 1920s. Photo courtesy of the National Archives.
Above: WPA workers building a stage in the Julian Smith Casino, September, 1936. Photo courtesy of the National Archives.
The Julian Smith Casino's historical significance lies not in gambling, but in its role as a community hub, a testament to the WPA's Depression-era initiatives. It continues to preserve memories and stories in Augusta, Georgia. casino sister sites
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