Those who have followed this blog know that I moved Greenville, SC last May and have been eager to explore the many charming towns across the South. My most recent visit took me to Marietta, Georgia.
I was impressed with the small railroad town that reminded me of State College in my home state of Pennsylvania, with its boutique shops, restaurants and galleries.
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| Speaking of Pennsylvania, here's a Liberty Bell recreation. |
Museums on the Square
Within a short stroll of the Marietta Square, four museums
offer visitors a window into the past—from a Civil War-era hotel turned history
center to a preserved 1850s home, a museum devoted to Gone with the Wind and a
fine arts institution housed in a former post office. Together they tell the
story of the area, through architecture, artifacts, literature and art.
The William Root House
The William Root House is the oldest surviving wood-frame house in Marietta, making it a key piece of the city’s early architectural history.
Root was a Philadelphia transplant who moved to Marietta in 1839, opening a drug and mercantile store on the square and becoming one of the town’s earliest merchants. The home is also one of the few buildings in the area that survived Sherman’s Atlanta Campaign during the Civil War.
Were it not for preservationists, the building may not stand
today. In the late 1980s, preservationists stepped in to restore it as a
historic house museum, using period-appropriate furnishings. A self-guided digital
tour allows guests to move through the rooms at their own pace.
What makes the Root House especially interesting is that it
represents a typical middle-class home—not a grand mansion, but a home where
people of simpler means resided.
One of my favorite rooms was the parlor, which reflects the middle class’s desire to impress guests. It showcases the family’s finest furnishings, a patterned rug underfoot, and decorative objects arranged carefully on tables and mantels. In the 1850s, this was the room where visitors would have been received, making it the home’s most refined and showpiece-like space.
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| The parlor represents a typical middle class room during the 1800s. |
A powerful component of the interior interpretation focuses on the enslaved individuals who lived and worked on the property, using documents, research and exhibits to tell their stories.
In a city filled with Civil War history, the William Root House offers something different: an intimate look at the rhythms of daily life that shaped Marietta long before the modern skyline appeared.
The Marietta History Center
In 1862, Union spy James Andrews and his raiders stayed at
the Fletcher House Hotel before launching The Great Locomotive Chase—a daring
raid conducted during the Civil War.
During General William Sherman’s Atlanta campaign, much of
Marietta was burned, but the Kennesaw House survived the destruction.
The Marietta History Center opened in 1996 and tells the
story of Marietta and Cobb County. It contains the largest collection of
artifacts related to the area, including items from daily life, military
history and local industries.
For anyone wanting to understand Marietta beyond its charming streets and storefronts, the Marietta History Center is the perfect place to begin.
The Art Museum
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| The Art Museum was once a post office. |
The Art Museum, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, focuses entirely on American artists. The stately building occupies the former Cobb County Post Office built in 1910 in a Classical Revival style with large columns that give it an impressive presence.
Inside, visitors will gain insight into the region’s creative culture and will likely see something new each time due to the museums rotating exhibitions.
A juried woodworking exhibit showcased the impressive skill of many woodworkers during our visit.
Since opening in 1990, the museum has played a key role in
turning Marietta Square into a cultural hub, helping to attract galleries,
festivals and arts programming to the area.
The Gone with the Wind Museum
The Gone with the Wind Museum is located in Brumby Hall, an
antebellum Greek Revival home built in 1851 and is another structure that is
listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
It, too, survived the Civil War era in Marietta. The museum opened
in 2013 in the Old Thomas Warehouse near Marietta Square prior to relocating to
Brumby Hall.
Inside, visitors will find original items from the 1939 movie, included Scarlett O’Hare’s mourning bonnet and the Bengaline honeymoon gown, both worn by Vivien Leigh. One of the most notable artifacts is Scarlett’s honeymoon dress, which is considered one of the few surviving costumes from the film on permanent display.
Exhibits also include pieces of the Tara façade, along with posters, props and memorabilia from the movie’s production and premiere.
Built by a dedicated collector by the name of Vicky Lynn
Rogers, it’s a must-see for anyone captivated by the period piece that still
resonates with audiences today.
Museums Located for Convenience
Whether you're an art fan, a history enthusiast, or a fan of old films that are still popular to this day, you'll enjoy a stay in the quaint town of Marietta.
Exploring these four museums, all within close proximity of each other, is a convenient way to gain a deeper understanding of Marietta—its culture, its history and the people who helped shape the city over time.
