There is so much history and culture to explore in the Marietta, Georgia, area. Not only are there museums dedicated to our hometown’s rich history, but there are also museums dedicated to world history, films, technology, and art, too. That’s why Crème de la Crème of East Cobb in Marietta has put together this list of some of the best museums you can visit within a short drive of home. Here are seven interesting museums you have to visit in and around Marietta.

Gone With the Wind Museum

“Museum” licensed under CC BY 2.0 via Flickr by Saffron Waller Photography

The Gone With the Wind Museum is fully dedicated to the 1936 book and 1939 film, “Gone With the Wind.” The museum was originally housed in the Old Thomas Warehouse Building at Marietta Square but has since been moved to Historic Brumby Hall, where there’s more room for the exhibits. 

You can take in the beautiful architecture of Brumby Hall while viewing hundreds of pieces of memorabilia, including rare press articles, original scripts for the film, production contracts, concept art, and the honeymoon gown worn by Vivien Leigh, the actress who portrayed the protagonist Scarlett O’Hara. One display provides information about the movie’s African American cast members, including Oscar winner Hattie McDaniel.

What’s great about this specialty museum is that you don’t have to be a fan of the book or film to enjoy the exhibits and artifacts. In fact, it may just be a cool experience for you and your children to see movie props up close, learn how the film was made, and better understand the cultural impact that both the book and film had on the country and the world. Tickets are $7 for adults and $6 for children.

Aviation History & Technology Center

The Aviation History & Technology Center houses a variety of historic aircraft, and you can view the outside of and learn about each aircraft’s history from one of the incredibly knowledgeable tour guides. This place houses military fighter jets, weapons transports, and a black Lockheed armed ground-attack aircraft nicknamed “Ghost Rider.” You can tour the inside of two aircraft: the C141B Air Force transport and the Lockheed JetStar owned by country singer Kenny Rogers. This museum also hosts informational events for those who want to learn even more about these and other aircraft.

Admission is $5 for adults, $3 for students, and free for children under 5.

Marietta Cobb Museum of Art

The Marietta Cobb Museum of Art houses diverse exhibits from artists all over the country  and features pieces in a variety of mediums. You can view photography, pottery, paintings, sculpture, drawings, and other works that use diverse techniques and materials. The museum also hosts educational presentations and talks with artists,  classes and workshops for artists of all ages, and opening-night receptions for members. It also hosts community events like the chalk drawing festival Chalktober, and adults-only gatherings, such as  Martinis and Music.

Admission is $8 for adults, $5 for ages 6 to 18, and for those 65 and over, and free for members and children under 6.

Marietta Fire Museum

Located just a few blocks away from Marietta Square is the Marietta Fire Museum. Come explore the history of the city’s fire department and the evolution of firefighters’ uniforms and emergency response tools. See antique fire apparatus tools and gear used in the 1850s. View a few different versions of the fire truck, including a ladder truck from the 1940s. There are even models you can climb into. Admission to this museum is free, and you can visit for a self-guided tour or call ahead for a guided tour.

Museum of History and Holocaust Education

Get a more in-depth look at the events and conditions that led to and impacted World War II and the Holocaust at the Museum of History and Holocaust Education. This museum is housed and managed by Kennesaw State University and features exhibits about Georgia’s WWII service members, the Tuskegee Airmen, war media and propaganda, the Rosie the Riveter movement, and the perilous events of the Holocaust in Europe and the Japanese internment camps on U.S. soil.

This museum is free to visit, and you can also view some of the artifacts, presentations, and educational displays online. 

The Youth Museum

The Youth Museum is a local educational center that hosts interactive and storytelling-focused exhibits on a variety of historical events, including the American Revolution. This museum, which has educated students of all ages for over 50 years, allows group tours from local schools. But what makes this museum unique  is that children are directly involved in the re-enactments that showcase a pivotal scene in history. They get to play pretend with costumes and rehearse a small script across the museum’s three stage areas. 

Consider pitching this awesome local museum to your child’s teacher for the next field trip, and volunteer to chaperone because you won’t want to miss this show.

The Southern Museum of Civil War & Locomotive History

The Southern Museum is a Smithsonian Affiliate institution, so it’s backed by one of the most comprehensive and trusted museum organizations in the world. At this museum, you can view three permanent exhibits. 

• Railroads: Lifelines of the Civil War: This exhibition showcases how important railroads were during the American Civil War. See how these machines transported soldiers to battle, brought wounded men home, and took weapons to armies in need.
• The Great Locomotive Chase: This exhibit focuses on the events of the Great Locomotive Chase, where Union spies successfully caught the “General” locomotive and its Confederate conductor. It features artifacts, an educational movie, a lifelike railroad tunnel, and an actual “General” locomotive.
• Glover Machine Works: Casting a New South: This exhibit is a full-scale reproduction of a locomotive assembly line, complete with an office, pattern shop, factory equipment, and two locomotives in the process of being completed.

Rotating exhibits have featured topics like post-war reconstruction, mail service advances, and trains in WWII. And, of course, no train museum would be complete without model trains and a kids’ area with train toys to play with.So there you have it, seven of the most interesting and unique museums in the Marietta, Georgia, area. Did we miss any of your family’s favorite historical destinations around Cobb County? If so, contact us today. We’ll add it to our list!