Information
- Location:
- Kennesaw, GA, 30144
- Phone:
- 770-427-2117
- Mon - Sat:
- 9:30 am - 5:00 pm
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Extended Info
The General:
The Southern Museum, located in Kennesaw, Ga, is the home to the General, the locomotive at the heart of one of history's most daring and exciting train chases!
On April 12, 1862, James J. Andrews and a band of Union spies stole the General from under the watchful eyes of guards at nearby Camp McDonald while passengers and crew were eating breakfast at the Lacy Hotel.
The General was eventually recovered right before those fugitives got to Chattanooga. The locomotive is now the gem at the heart of the Southern Museum's collections, and remains a popular attraction for visitors from across the country.
Glover Machine Works: The Glover Machine Works, originally in Marietta, Ga, played a significant role in industrializing the South following the Civil War. The Southern Museum brings the collection to life with a reproduction of the Glover factory, featuring the only restored belt-driven locomotive assembly line in the country, original machining equipment, and two restored Glover locomotives in various stages of assembly.
Jolley Education Center:
Since its grand opening on September 27, 2008, the addition of the 8,000 square foot Jolley Education Center to the Southern Museum has entertained and enlightened students and their parents alike.
The Center is also the permanent home to Georgia’s Merci Boxcar, part of a thank you gift from France to the United States following World War II.
The Jolley Education Center is open six days a week during normal Museum operating hours, and is closed on Sundays.
Special Exhibits: Beginning February 21, 2009, explore the fertile imagination of William Wardrop through his unique and intricate miniature sculptures of trains, planes, rocket ships, land craft, submarines and more. Free with regular museum admission.
Archives & Library: The Archives at the Southern Museum of Civil War & Locomotive History houses a significant collection of company records, engineering drawings, blueprints, glass plate negatives, photographs and correspondence from various American businesses representing the railroad industry in the South after the Civil War. The Archives also contain a growing collection of Civil War letters, diaries, and official records.
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Events
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- "The General"
The Strand Theatre on the Historic ...
Today, January 8 at 7:00pm
Zoom off the beaten path on a 2009 Grizzly 550 FI All Terrain Vehicle from Yamaha Marine Group! The Kennesaw Museum Foundation is now selling raffle tickets for this powerful prize. The drawing will be held December 23, 2009.
Yamaha Marine Group has donated the ATV for the Foundation to raffle. Proceeds from the raffle will go to benefit the Foundation, as well as the Southern Museum of Civil War & Locomotive History.
“We’re so pleased to be teaming up with Yamaha again for our raffle,” said Paul Chastain, Foundation president. “Their continuing support is necessary to fund educational initiatives, acquire artifacts, and continue to bring interesting and exciting exhibits to the Museum.”
Phil Dyskow, president of Yamaha Marine Group, says that his company is proud to support the work of both the Foundation and the Southern Museum. “The Museum provides a unique look back into history of the South and of Kennesaw, where Yamaha Marine Group has made its home in the United States,” said Dyskow. “Yamaha admires the Foundation’s work and the Southern Museum, which is among the best in the South.”
Perfect for outdoors enthusiasts, the ATV comes equipped with several features including electronic power steering for superior comfort, fully automatic Ultramatic® transmission, On-Command® In/Out RWD feature, and a trick digital instrument panel – which boasts a multifunction LCD display including a speedometer, odometer, 4WD status, transmission position, fuel gauge, and more.
Tickets are $10 each, or $25 for three. Those who wish to buy tickets are advised to hurry, as only a limited number will be sold. Tickets can be purchased securely via the Southern Museum’s Web site at www.southernmuseum.org/raf
Yamaha marine products are marketed throughout the United States and around the world. Yamaha is the only outboard company to have earned NMMA®’s C.S.I. Customer Satisfaction Index award every year since its inception. Visit www.yamahaoutboards.com.
Who knew a childhood obsession would turn into an exhibit that inspires thousands?
“I wanted to build a model of the ‘Nautilus,’” William Wardrop stated, referring to the submarine featured in the popular Disney movie “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.” “They didn’t make a kit for that when I was a kid. Years later, once I learned my modeling technique, that became one of my first models.”
There are many terms to describe Wardrop, but the most accurate would be “engineer” and “artist.” In fact, it’s difficult separating those two identities when you visit his work, which is part of the newest Southern Museum exhibit “William Wardrop Creations: Man’s Imagination and Machines.”
Inspired mostly by science fiction, Wardrop was working as a cardboard modeler for General Motors when he learned a unique technique that would change his life. “I found out that I could soak cardboard in Super Glue, and it would turn into a plastic-like substance,” he explained. Experimenting with different shapes and sizes of cardboard, Wardrop discovered a whole new way to develop intricately designed models.
Based in Michigan, Wardrop explains that his favorite recreations involve both mythical creations of transportation, as well as those that are very real. “I love rocket ships, and since spending time at the Southern Museum, I’m gaining a true appreciation for locomotives!”
However, Wardrop’s true love is for submarines, stemming from his childhood days spent at a lake. “My brother and I built a “City Under the Sea” one summer,” he said. “It was about four feet underneath the surface of the lake … we really had everything, even little people. We spent hours every single day that summer developing our city.” Unfortunately, a harsh winter froze the lake thoroughly that year, destroying Wardrop’s hard work. “I still think about setting it up again, even after all these years,” he said wistfully.
At his exhibit at the Southern Museum, Wardrop displays several of his models including his interpretations of the Museum’s star attractions, the General and the Merci Boxcar. “I’m particularly proud of the boxcar,” he stated. “I did every single flat with as much exact detail as I possibly could. I also have soldiers in the car. It’s a very detailed piece.”
“William Wardrop Creations: Man’s Imagination and Machines” opens on February 21 and runs until July 5. Visitors of all ages will be enchanted with Wardrop’s creations, and inspiration will surely strike at the “Creativity Station,” where people can create their very own models.
A Smithsonian Institution affiliate, the Southern Museum features collections of rare Civil War weapons, uniforms, and other personal items; an exciting exhibit about The Great Locomotive Chase, including a short movie; and a full-scale replica of a locomotive factory that helped rebuild the South after the war.
The Southern Museum is located 20 miles north of Atlanta, off I-75 at exit 273. For more information, visit www.southernmuseum.org or call (770) 427-2117.
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