Marietta, Georgia, keeps history hot with a fire museum, ghost tours, aeronautical history and more
Minutes from Atlanta and with easy access to the mountains of North Georgia, Marietta is an ideal home base for exploring the best the state has to offer. The vibrant city draws visitors with merits that extend past location, and offers a cool contrast to its urban hipness, with interesting historical threads woven throughout its fabric. Just one scan of the Square showcases a balance of historic buildings and modern art. Take, for instance, the Earl and Rachel Smith Strand Theatre, which hosts acts ranging from community plays to events like Brew with a View—an ideal opportunity to savor a sip while scanning the skyline of the square from the theatre’s rooftop terrace—to replays of long-standing movie classics, like The Sandlot. Beyond special events, pull back the curtain and you’ll also learn this happening performing arts venue got its start as a major motion picture house in 1935. While it has fallen in and out of disrepair over its 80+-year history, the theatre is still a thriving icon on the Marietta entertainment scene. 117 North Park Square
Planning to visit
Make your first stop the Marietta Welcome Center and Visitors Bureau. The center is housed in the historic 1898 train station, Marietta’s first stop for more than a hundred years. The center is staffed by volunteers and is open seven days a week.
Pick up maps and brochures highlighting the city’s arts, cultural and historical attractions, antebellum, Victorian, Greek Revival, Queen Anne and Plain-style residences and buildings that attract nearly one million annual tourists. 4 Depot Street
History is hot
Learn the history of the Marietta Fire Department like never before at the recently re-modeled Marietta Fire Museum, which boasts a collection of antique fire apparatus, tools and gear dating back to 1854. Learn how the fire department has changed over time through a free self-guided tour, available 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday-Friday, or call 770-794-5466 to schedule a guided tour for a more memorable experience. 112 Haynes St
Nearby, visit the Marietta Museum of History, open 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Monday-Saturday. Originally built as a cotton warehouse in 1845, the building was remodeled to become the Fletcher House Hotel in 1855. During the Civil War the hotel temporarily served as a makeshift hospital and morgue. For this reason, the building has become the subject of many stories and local ghost folklore. Today the museum houses the largest collection artifacts relating to Marietta and Cobb County’s history. 1 Depot Street, Suite 200
Visit the oldest existing house in downtown Marietta and get an authentic look at life for an average middle-class family living in antebellum Georgia at the William Root House Museum and Garden, open 11 a.m.-4 p.m., Wednesday-Saturday. This modest 1840s house is more typical of its time and place than the grand plantations and columned mansions popularized by Gone With the Wind. Mr. Root was one of Marietta’s earliest merchants and its first druggist and guests can tour the garden which is planted with vegetables, culinary herbs, fruit trees, decorative flowers and blooming shrubs, along with medicinal herbs likely the same kind used in Mr. Root’s pharmacy. 80 N Marietta Parkway NW
Memorializing the nation’s history
Established in 1863, the Marietta Confederate Cemetery pays homage to thousands of soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice. Check the Cemetery’s website for special events, such as Living History Tours. 251 Lakewood Dr.
Actively pursue history at Kennesaw Mountain and Battlefield, a 2,965-acre National Battlefield that preserves a Civil War battleground of the Atlanta Campaign. Opposing forces maneuvered and fought here from June 19, 1864 until July 2, 1864. On weekdays, drive to the top of the mountain, or on weekends a shuttle bus is available instead. If you drive to Cheatham Hill (the main battlefield) then to Kolb Farm, you can discover more of the deeper history of Kennesaw Mountain. Picnic and play in designated areas and then enjoy a hike on some of the over 22 miles of maintained interpretive trails. Make sure to bring your binoculars to go birdwatching or your camera and capture a moment of the natural beauty and history. At the Visitor Center, view the 35 minute movie on the Atlanta Campaign and Battle of Kennesaw. Explore the expanded museum which includes many artifacts never before on display. There are also free tours of the museum every day at 1 p.m. Enjoy weekend Ranger talks starting at 10:30 a.m. Kids can pick up a Junior Ranger book and get involved in what they’re seeing at the Battlefield while parents browse the bookstore. 900 Kennesaw Mountain Drive, Kennesaw
Walk this way
No need to wait for October. Get your boo on year-round with the Ghosts of Marietta 90-minute walking tour, which wanders through the historic streets of a town with a past that is deep in tradition, history and quality of life. From tales of the departed spirit of a civil war soldier to a mysterious resident of one of Marietta’s stately homes or businesses, hear the stories behind these mysteries and maybe, if you’re lucky, experience them as well. Wear comfortable shoes suitable for walking, and feel free to bring a flashlight and camera. Check the website for additional tours options, such as pub crawls and trolley tours. 131 Church Street
Pick up a complimentary Black Heritage Walking Tour brochure at the Marietta Convention and Visitors Bureau and embark on a self-guided journey to several historic sites that have played a part in Marietta’s African-American history and heritage, such as the site of Andrew Rogers’ Barber Shop, circa 1880s, the original site of the Turner Chapel Church and the United States Colored Troops Section in Marietta National Cemetery. For more information, please call the Marietta Visitors Bureau at (770) 429-1115. 4 Depot Street
For an overview of the city, hop aboard the Marietta Trolley tour, a one-hour, fully-narrated exploration of the historic city offered at 1 p.m., Thursday and Friday, and 10 a.m. on Saturday. Experience Marietta’s rich heritage, from the vibrant downtown Square, past grand Antebellum homes, to the battlefields at Kennesaw Mountain. 131 Church Street
Take history to new heights
Home to the Georgia division of Lockheed, Marietta has deep roots in aeronautical history. Visit the Marietta Museum’s Aviation Wing, open to visitors 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Thursday-Saturday, weather permitting. Comprised of a 15.5-acre park, this portion of the museum features various civilian and military aircraft from the latter half of the twentieth century in addition to aircraft produced locally in Marietta. Aviation in Marietta began with Bell Aircraft in the early 1940s and continued to grow with Lockheed Martin from the 1950s to present. The industry played an integral role in Marietta’s history, with aircraft manufacturing continuing to be a prominent industry. Located 2 blocks south of 1 Depot Street, Suite 200
Visit December 1-2 during the Marietta Pilgrimage, a Christmas home tour that takes place in the historic districts around the Marietta Square, the first full weekend in December. The tour, a favorite holiday tradition for over 30 years, showcases six private historic homes all lovingly restored and decorated for the season. Choose from either a day tour or an evening candlelight tour. The day tour showcases all six homes and public buildings while the candlelight tour features three of the six homes. Or, purchase a combination ticket which allows guests to see the public buildings and three of the homes during the day tour and the remaining three homes during the Candlelight Tour.
Visit www.MariettaPilgrimage.com for more information.
Stay overnight and enjoy all days of the festival while exploring historical aspects of Marietta. Visit www.MariettaSquare.com/stay for a listing of Marietta’s myriad lodging options, including a bed and breakfast alongside traditional brand-name hotels.