Out of Service: Montgomery Main Elevators at the former Fort Discovery in Downtown Augusta

Oh memories. I remember when back in 6th grade I went on a field trip to Fort Discovery, which was the coolest science museum around, where you could play around with the cool stuff they had there and ride on a gyroscope (which is located about 20 ft. from the elevator lobby on the 2nd floor). In addition to all the cool stuff there, I was able to witness a demonstration of some cool liquid nitrogen tricks, as well as eat lunch and a huge room that viewed the Savannah River.

As far as I remember, this place has two sets of escalators: one at one of the side entrances, and another in the atrium near the elevators. The main elevators (shown in video) serve the parking levels and the museum levels (and judging from the down button on the lowest parking floor, possibly an additional basement floor).

Fort Discovery was opened in 1997 and was owned and funded by the state until 2003, when the center was then funded by the city and community (to keep the place from closing), and then was once again funded by the state in 2005 until it was closed down on December 31, 2010. What is left? Well, the parking garage is still open, and the elevators (which were the main elevators for the museum) were shut down. The door to the stairwell is locked and covered in spider webs.

Location: National Science Center's Fort Discovery (closed)
City: Augusta, GA

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Montgomery
• Elevator
• Elevators
• Lift
• Lifts
• Ascensor
• Ascenseur
• Aufzug
• Hiss
• Fort
• Discovery
• Parking
• Garage
• Deck
• PG
• Car
• Park
• Downtown
• Augusta
• Georgia
• GA

[TheZekethunder]

Why would they put the elevators out of service, if it is 2 floors? Why not just lock the levels you don't want the public to access.

[escalatorgeek881]

@TheZekethunder I guess they didn't want to waste energy, since there is another bank of elevators that leads to the residential tower.

[TheZekethunder]

@escalatorgeek881 Do you have a video of those in the residentail tower?

[escalatorgeek881]

@TheZekethunder Those elevators are behind a coded door, so no.

[TheZekethunder]

You should try to get the fixtures from these elevators, unless of course something else opens up. Also, is the parking garage only 1 floor?

[escalatorgeek881]

@TheZekethunder The parking garage, which is still open, is two levels.

[Vanool35]

Ah, Vector fixtures. They could actually pass as new fixtures in a lot of areas...

[ElevaTube]

Interestingly, they still have power. I'm guessing maintenance people use them on occasion.

[elevatorgeek88]

oh wow I remember going to this place back in 5th grade for a field trip which was in 2002. I remember these elevators being on at that time and the interior had green panels and a mechanical floor passing chime. The escalators were also montgomery too I think.

[FGelevators]

@escalatorgeek881 oh okay :)