By Howard Pousner
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

The General, one of the largest artifacts of the Civil War, is a prized piece in the collection of Kennesaw’s Southern Museum of Civil War & Locomotive History. The steam engine will be the centerpiece of an April celebration of the 150th anniversary of the Great Locomotive Chase.

The Southern Museum, a Smithsonian Institution affiliate, has announced a day full of events on the sesquicentennial of the chase, April 12, in which Union spies, called Andrews’ Raiders, crept behind enemy lines in Big Shanty (present-day Kennesaw) with a plan to commandeer the General. Andrews’ Raiders intended to force an end to the war by cutting off the Confederate strategic railroad supply line between Atlanta and Chattanooga, tearing up track, destroying bridges and cutting telegraph wires along their way.

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KENNESAW, Ga. (Feb. 6, 2012) – The Southern Museum of Civil War & Locomotive History is gearing up to celebrate the sesquicentennial of the Great Locomotive Chase, one of the Civil War’s most thrilling episodes.

The General

At 6 a.m. on April 12, 1862, in what is present day Kennesaw, union spies under the leadership of James J. Andrews stole The General, a Confederate locomotive. The episode – also called the Andrews Raid – is memorialized in film, books and at The Southern Museum, a Smithsonian Institution affiliate that is home to The General.

On April 12, 2012, the city and the museum will hold a series of events and ceremonies to commemorate the event. In addition, the museum will be open from 9:30 a.m. until 5 p.m. on April 12 free of charge to the public.

The day will begin with a 6 a.m. breakfast at the Trackside Grill in downtown Kennesaw; tickets are $20. At 8:30 a.m., a 150th anniversary proclamation will be presented at the historic Kennesaw depot; there is no charge to attend.

At 6:30 p.m., the museum will hold the Great Locomotive Chase dinner at the Trackside Grill; tickets are $100. At 8 p.m., the museum will be hosting “Dessert at the Southern Museum” featuring musician Bobby Horton, who will be performing Civil War era songs; tickets are $25 for those who do not attend the dinner.

Following the sesquicentennial, on April 14-15, the museum will be hosting “Camp McDonald: A Living History Weekend.” As part of the living history weekend, local re-enactment groups will recreate and interpret life in Camp McDonald, a Confederate encampment that was located across the tracks from the museum (where Kennesaw City Hall is presently located) during the Civil War.

This event – to be held on the lawn across the street from the museum – will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days. Admission is $5 for adults and $2 for children ages 4-12, while children 3 years old and younger are free. Tickets also allow entry into the museum, which will operate normal hours: 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on April 14 and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on April 15.

In addition to the sesquicentennial events, visitors can explore the museum’s permanent exhibits to learn about the Glover Machine Works, a locomotive factory in nearby Marietta that helped rebuild the South after the war. The museum includes a full-scale replica of a Glover Machine Works factory line.

Museum admission is normally $7.50 for adults, $6.50 for seniors, $5.50 for children ages 4-12 and free for children three and under. The museum is located at 2829 Cherokee Street in downtown Kennesaw.

For more information about the Great Locomotive Chase anniversary celebrations, visit southernmuseum.org/sesquicentennial/. For more information, call (770) 427-2117, visit southernmuseum.org or follow the museum at facebook.com/southernmuseum.

CALENDAR LISTING: The Southern Museum of Civil War & Locomotive History will host a series of events to celebrate the sesquicentennial of the Great Locomotive Chase, one of the Civil War’s most thrilling episodes. Events include a 6 a.m. breakfast, proclamations at the town’s historic train depot and an evening of music and interpretive storytelling. Tickets are required for the morning and evening events; the museum will offer free admission on April 12. The museum will also host a living history weekend on April 14-15. For more information about the Great Locomotive Chase anniversary celebrations, visit southernmuseum.org/sesquicentennial/.

About The Southern Museum
A Smithsonian Institution affiliate, the Southern Museum of Civil War & Locomotive History features collections of rare Civil War weapons, uniforms and other personal items; an exciting exhibit about the Great Locomotive Chase, including the General locomotive; and a full-scale replica of a locomotive factory that helped rebuild the South after the war. The Jolley Education Center features a variety of hands-on exhibits to inspire a love of learning in children. During the sesquicentennial, 150th anniversary of the Civil War, the Southern Museum will be hosting numerous events that will explore topics relevant to this tumultuous time in history. Visit the Museum’s calendar of events at southernmuseum.org for a list of activities and events.

The Southern Museum is located 20 miles north of Atlanta, off I-75 at exit 273. Admission is $7.50 for adults, $6.50 for seniors, $5.50 for children ages 4-12, and free for children three and under.

Saturday, February 18, 2011 • 1-4 p.m.

The Southern Museum of Civil War & Locomotive History in Kennesaw will host its first Mad Tea Party Saturday, Feb. 18 from 1 to 4 p.m. During the Mad Tea Party, the Museum will entertain guests with several classic tea party treats and tasty delights; however, this tea party will be anything but typical. 

Guests are encouraged to wear their wackiest wardrobe and come prepared for a silly ole time. In addition to the zany décor, there will be a real Starbucks tea shaman to teach guests about different teas, and it’s rumored that the Queen of Hearts might even stop by – hold on to your heads!

Other entertainment includes an “I’m a Little Tea Pot” sing and dance-along, face painting and a crazy make it-and-take it craft. Kennesaw’s Just Fired Pottery will also be present and will offer an additional craft for a small fee.  Advanced reservations are required – $25 per couple for Museum members and $35 per couple for non-members; $10 for each additional guest. Space is limited so participants are encouraged to RSVP by the February 11 deadline.

The Mad Tea Party is only one of the Museum’s many events in 2012. More can be found at the Museum’s event page at http://www.southernmuseum.org/upcoming-events/.

RSVP to Mackenzie Mabee
Events Coordinator
770-427-2117 ext. 3058
mmabee@kennesaw-ga.gov

About The Southern Museum

A Smithsonian Institution affiliate, the Southern Museum of Civil War & Locomotive History features collections of rare Civil War weapons, uniforms and other personal items; an exciting exhibit about the Great Locomotive Chase, including the General locomotive; and a full-scale replica of a locomotive factory that helped rebuild the South after the war. The Jolley Education Center features a variety of hands-on exhibits to inspire a love of learning in children. During the sesquicentennial, 150th anniversary of the Civil War, the Southern Museum will be hosting numerous events that will explore topics relevant to this tumultuous time in history. Visit the Museum’s calendar of events at southernmuseum.org for a list of activities and events.

The Southern Museum is located 20 miles north of Atlanta, off I-75 at exit 273. Admission is $7.50 for adults, $6.50 for seniors, $5.50 for children ages 4-12, and free for children three and under.

Thank you to everyone who visited the Southern Museum of Civil War & Locomotive History for today’s “Trains, Trains, Trains” event.

We appreciate your support and look forward to seeing you again at a future event or whenever you want to explore our exhibits.

Be sure to check out (and like) our Facebook page for pictures from the event, and visit our calendar for upcoming events.

The Southern Museum of Civil War & Locomotive History will be giving free t-shirts to the first 100 attendees of the Museum’s “Trains, Trains, Trains” event on Saturday.

The event will be held from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 21, in the museum’s Jolley Education Center.

This family event will include train crafts, operating model trains and tips and techniques for building a home layout. The event will also include interactive activities, including a train-themed story time, a Thomas & Friends activity center, railroad music and vendors selling a variety of train-related items.

In addition to the day’s events, visitors have an opportunity to explore the museum’s permanent exhibits to learn about the General, a locomotive involved in the Great Locomotive Chase, one of the Civil War’s most thrilling episodes. The museum also includes a full-scale replica of Glover Machine Works, a locomotive factory in nearby Marietta that helped rebuild the South after the war.

Museum admission is $7.50 for adults, $6.50 for seniors, $5.50 for children ages 4-12 and free for children three and under; coupons and discounts will not be accepted on the day of the event. The museum is located at 2829 Cherokee Street in downtown Kennesaw.

For more information, call (770) 427-2117, visit southernmuseum.org or follow the museum at facebook.com/southernmuseum.

January 21 • 10 AM – 4 PM

Crazy about trains? Whether you like to ride them, watch them or build them, you won’t want to miss this family event celebrating trains. We will be creating a special train craft, operating model trains and teaching you how to build your own model train layout. There will also be interactive activities including a train-themed story time, a Thomas & Friends activity center and railroad music throughout the day. For those wanting to learn more about trains, you will have the opportunity to speak with several model train enthusiasts, as well as learn the history of the General locomotive, involved in one of the most thrilling spy stories of the Civil War. Plus, a variety of vendors will be selling train-related items!

The Trains, Trains, Trains event will be held in the Jolley Education Center of the Museum and is free with Museum admission (no coupons or discounts will be accepted on this day). For more information, please contact 770.427.2117 ext 3058 or email mmabee@kennesaw-ga.gov.

December 3 · 1 PM – 4 PM · Special Admission Price – 1/2 OFF!

Join the Southern Museum and celebrate the holidays in the Civil War tradition. There will be typical 1860s holiday decorations in the Lacy Hotel Gallery and throughout the Museum, period music and dance performances in the Cobb Energy Gallery and Museum guests are invited to create their own vintage ornaments. This year’s event will be in conjunction with the Parks and Recreation’s Santa Parade in downtown Kennesaw. For more information, contact Aimee Harmon at 770.427.2117, ext. 3174 or email aharmon@kennesaw-ga.gov.

GAMVPA

Friday, September 30, 2011  10am – 4pm

Saturdary, October 1, 2011  10am – 4pm

For the second year, The Southern Museum will be host to the Georgia Military Vehicle Preservation Association’s Fall Rally!  This event will feature vehicle shows and displays, a military vehicle parts and supplies swap meet, military collectible traders, and much more.  The Rally to be held on the depot lawn across from the Museum.  The GAMVPA is the affiliated chapter of the Military Vehicle Preservation Association.  Their mission is:

To provide a regional organization for historic military vehicle enthusiasts, military history enthusiasts, and military collectors.