James Brown, golf, and pimento cheese sandwiches are some of Augusta’s most recognizable symbols. But there’s something guests may not know that has been a part of the community for decades.
Just outside of downtown is the Augusta Cup, a 40-foot-tall, cup-shaped building added onto a defunct factory. The building was constructed in 1947 by the Lily-Tulip Co., which manufactured disposable cups. Over the years, it passed through several cup manufacturers, most recently Dart Container, which closed the plant in 2017.
The cup has been redesigned and redesigned several times over the years, most recently last year as part of a major renovation of the building. Local artist Addison Niday repainted the cup to look like the old Lily Tulip cups and gave it the name “Augusta Cup” in the original Lily Tulip font.
Public support for the mug’s new life came pretty quickly. After the project was completed, many took to social media, posting pictures and sharing loving captions. Teresa Benavidez said her father was one of the mug’s previous artists and the new look makes her very nostalgic.
“It brought back memories of my childhood when I would drive past the factory. I would point out the window and tell everyone I knew that my dad painted that big mug,” she said. “My dad passed away a few years ago and I know he would love the new look and the memory of a job well done.”
King Johnson shared similar feelings, as his own father was art director at Lily-Tulip.
“I think it’s a perfect throwback to that era,” he said. “Even though it’s not as iconic as Coke, it’s iconic for Augusta.”
After so much support, Niday partnered with local pottery company Tire City Potters to create a small version of the cup for fans to drink from. The limited supply sold out in a matter of days. Today, Tire City still makes the small cups and they are sold at Augusta & Co. Niday still sells stickers with the “Augusta Cup” logo on his website.
“I am very grateful to be able to follow in the footsteps of the many sign painters who have adorned Augusta with their paintings on this trophy over the past 70 years,” Niday said. “I am happy and grateful to have been able to bring the banner back as a piece of history that everyone knows was there before.”
The Augusta Cup is located at 1550 Wrightsboro Road and anyone can take photos outside. For those who want to visit, there is limited parking nearby, so plan accordingly.
