What are the opening hours?

Tuesday 9:30am - 5pm Wednesday 9:30am - 5pm Thursday 9:30am - 5pm Friday 9:30am - 5pm Saturday 9:30am - 5pm

Southern Museum of Civil War & Locomotive History

Name: Southern Museum of Civil War & Locomotive History
Address: 2829 Cherokee Street NW, Kennesaw, GA, 30144, US
Telephone: (770) 427-2117
Price range: $
Rating: 4.6

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Southern Museum of Civil War & Locomotive History

The Southern Museum, in association with the Smithsonian Institution, is a premier metro Atlanta museum.
(1770)

Home to the locomotive General and the Glover Machine Works. Official page of The Southern Museum, an affiliate of the City of Kennesaw. Comments and/or posts will be hidden if they contain profanity, solicitations or advertisements, violations to intellectual property laws, information that may compromise public safety, political messages, or any reference to discrimination on the basis of protected status.

05/28/2026

Stay in the loop with all things Southern Museum!🚂
Sign up for our weekly newsletter for program updates, behind-the-scenes news, and even a fun weekly pop quiz to test your history knowledge. Don’t miss out, join the fun today!

Sign up today at https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/su/MU69Gxa

05/26/2026

All aboard for 100 years of 1926 silent film The General!🚂
Join us at the Southern Museum for 250 Years in Motion, a special centennial celebration of the iconic 1926 silent film The General, starring Buster Keaton and Marion Mack.

📅Saturday, June 6 | 9:30AM - 5:00PM
📍Southern Museum

Highlights include:
🌟$2.50 admission all day
⭐The opening of the Museum’s new Worker’s House & Lacy Exhibit
⭐Special screenings of The General (12:30–2:00 PM & 2:30–4:00 PM)
⭐A presentation by historian Ryan Lintelman from the National Museum of American History
⭐Live music
⭐Staff-led tours

The Making History, Making Change Lecture Series is organized by Smithsonian Affiliations as part of the Smithsonian’s Our Shared Future: 250. It is supported in part by the Dreier Family, Johanna and Ken Kim Family, Vaishali Shah Chadha and Family, and Michael Vu & Meridel Bulle-Vu.

Included with admission | Free for members

Learn more at https://southernmuseum.org/event/250-years-in-motion/

05/25/2026

Honoring Memorial Day
Did you know, on May 5, 1868, Major General John A. Logan, the Commander in Chief of the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR), issued the following order to GAR members:
“The 30th Day of May, 1868 is designated for the purpose of strewing with flowers or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades who died in the defense of their country during the late rebellion, and whose bodies now lie in almost every city, village, and hamlet churchyard in the land.”

This would be known as the first national observance of Decoration Day, now known as Memorial Day. This celebration began during the early days of Reconstruction as people from both the North and South made grassroots efforts to commemorate and decorate the graves of soldiers who had died during the Civil War. Eventually the holiday expanded to include celebrating the fallen American soldiers from all wars.

📸 Pictured: Members of the East Cambridge, Massachusetts GAR Post 57 at the Washington Convention, c.1910. (Harkins Collection, Southern Museum)

05/23/2026

Step into a story you can’t get anywhere else. At the Southern Museum, history isn’t behind glass, it’s all around you. Stand just feet from the legendary The General, explore immersive exhibits, and uncover the moments that helped shape a nation. 🚂

Plus, take on the 250 Years in Motion Scavenger Hunt and discover stories throughout the Museum as you go.

From hands-on experiences to stories that still resonate today, there’s always something new to explore. Plan your visit today at https://southernmuseum.org/visit/

05/22/2026

All aboard for Railroad Rendezvous at the Southern Museum!

📅 Saturday, July 25 | 9:30 AM – 5 PM

🚂Get an exclusive chance to step inside the General locomotive, the legendary engine from the Great Locomotive Chase of 1862! Visitors can also tour the newly restored Caboose X372 during the event.

The “Board the General Experience” and “Board the Caboose Experience” are each $5 per person or $7 for both, children 2 years old and younger are free, proceeds will go to the Kennesaw Museum Foundation.

The fun doesn’t stop there! This popular event celebrates all things rail and transportation with hands-on activities, demonstrations, and unique displays for all ages.

🎟️All activities except boarding The General and caboose are included with regular museum admission.

Learn More: https://southernmuseum.org/event/railroad-rendezvous-5/

Don’t miss this one of a kind celebration of transportation history!

05/19/2026

Create, experiment, investigate and learn together at our upcoming Mommy & Me programs!🚂

📅Thursday, May 21
Down by the Depot: What workers can you find at the Railroad Station? Let's find out!

📅Thursday, May 28
Then and Now: Join us as we look at technology used long ago.

This is a hands-on program designed for children ages 3 to 5 and their caregivers. Short classes at 10:00 AM, 11:00 AM, and 12:00 PM include story time, movement activities, and hands-on interactives. Plus, enjoy free play in the Jolley Education Center.

Included with Museum admission | Free for members | No registration required

05/18/2026

Join us for this month's Stay & Play: Better Together with Smith-Gilbert Gardens!🐝

📅 Saturday, May 23 | 9:30 AM – 12:30 PM
📍Southern Museum

Discover how to create environments that support these important connections, right here in Georgia, through interactive activities and exploration. This family-friendly program is free with regular Museum admission. All ages are welcome!

05/15/2026

Celebrate Kennesaw’s Salute to America with an unforgettable 21+ evening at the Southern Museum's Southern Spirits! Enjoy a night of history, live music, delicious food, and the best seat in town for the fireworks show.

📅 Date: Friday, July 3
⏰ Time: 7 PM – 10 PM (Fireworks at 9:30 PM)
📍 Location: Southern Museum
🎟️ $30 Members | $40 Non-members

Your ticket includes:
✔️ Three drink tickets (beer or wine)
✔️ Hot dog meal
✔️ Reserved lawn seating (chairs provided or bring your own)
✔️ Live tunes from Mars Hill Porch Pickers
✔️ Museum admission

Grab your tickets now at https://SouthernSpirits2026.eventbrite.com

05/13/2026

Staff Pick of the Month!🚂
This month, Jolee our Archivist, has chosen an original film script from Walt Disney's The Great Locomotive Chase as her staff pick!

"Walt Disney is one of America’s most beloved figures in entertainment. Having worked on the railroad at a young age and his love of the rails, Disney was attracted to the story of the Great Locomotive Chase. This script was the start of his own film about the legendary train heist in 1956. Hopefully, Walt Disney’s The Great Locomotive Chase has passed an interest in history to others and pushed them to learn more about the actual chase and the people involved."

Plan your visit to the Southern Museum today and see this artifact on display!

Address

2829 Cherokee Street NW
Kennesaw, GA
30144

Opening Hours

Tuesday	9:30am - 5pm
Wednesday	9:30am - 5pm
Thursday	9:30am - 5pm
Friday	9:30am - 5pm
Saturday	9:30am - 5pm

Telephone

(770) 427-2117

Website

http://www.southernmuseum.org/

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