News

New Kennesaw Museum Awarded “Best Idea”

COBB COUNTY, GA – The Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History in Kennesaw, GA, in association with the Cobb County Convention and Visitors Bureau (Cobb CVB), has earned a “Best Idea” award from the Georgia Association of Convention and Visitors Bureaus (GACVB).

The Museum’s multi-media marketing campaign was entered by Cobb CVB President Judy Renfroe. “The Museum has done such a tremendous job in promoting tourism in our county and drawing new visitors here, and I’m thrilled it was recognized for its efforts,” she explained.

GACVB Best Ideas Chairperson Stacey Dickson said, “The Museum’s marketing efforts reached across many markets to draw people in, including distributing bookmarks to local libraries, television interviews, Web site, billboards, advertising, a teacher event, and much more.”

The Southern Museum, a Smithsonian Affiliate, has recently also been named “Travel Attraction of the Year” by the Southeast Tourism Society and “Favorite Historical Site” by readers of Our Kids Atlanta magazine.

“We are honored to be recognized by the tourism industry for developing a creative and sound approach to drawing visitors to our area,” remarked Museum Executive Director Jeff Drobney.

The Museum, which houses three permanent collections and features traveling exhibits from the Smithsonian Institution and other sources, has already welcomed more than 25,000 visitors since reopening in March.

While marketing draws visitors initially, Drobney points out that the Museum’s impressive collections and revolving exhibits prompt return visits. “Our collection of rare Confederate weaponry and uniforms in the Railroads: Lifelines of the Civil War Collection is unmatched,” he said “And the Museum brings one of the most daring Civil War episodes to life in its Great Locomotive Chase Collection, featuring the stolen locomotive, the General, and an exciting new film about the chase.”

The Museum also illustrates how a local company helped rebuild the South after the war in the Glover Machine Works: Casting a New South Collection that features a factory reproduction with two locomotives in various stages of completion, a belt-driven assembly line, and a film about the casting process.

The Museum will present photographer Barbara Beirne’s Serving Home and Community: Women of Southern Appalachia, organized by the National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution, and developed for travel by Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service (SITES) September 27 – November 23, 2003.

The Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History is located 20 miles north of Atlanta, just off I-75 at exit 273, Wade Green Road. Open Monday – Saturday, 9:30 – 5:00 PM, Sunday noon – 5:00 PM. For more information, visit www.southernmuseum.org or call (770) 427-2117.