Discover Marietta: Museums, Culture and History

Marietta offers visitors a range of interests: aviation and technology, art, the history of the city and Cobb County, as well as theater and outdoor trails. Marietta Square is a central starting point for visitors, surrounded by museums, live music, theater and a variety of cultural events. If you’re considering which themes you’d like to shape your stay, Marietta’s collections and historic sites offer several points of interest.

Museums, Art and History

At the Aviation History & Technology Center, visitors can explore the interior of the C-141B StarLifter aircraft. This offers a different focus from the art collection at the Marietta Cobb Museum of Art, whose permanent exhibition includes works from the 18th century to the present day. The museum offers both self-guided and guided tours, and presents special exhibitions throughout the year. If you’re planning a group visit, check the tour arrangements and fees in advance, as they may change.

The Marietta History Center dedicates its gallery spaces to the diverse history of Marietta and Cobb County. Exhibitions, artifacts, photographs and interactive displays offer different ways to explore local history. The buildings themselves also have historical significance: Kennesaw House is one of the oldest buildings in downtown Marietta. William Root House was built around 1845 for Hannah and William Root, who were among Marietta’s early settlers. The house’s reconstructed gardens reflect gardening practices of the mid-19th century.

The Marietta Fire Museum houses antique fire engines, tools and equipment dating from 1854 onward. Marietta City Cemetery offers another perspective on the early community: established in the 1830s, it is the final resting place of a broad cross-section of the city’s early residents. These sites highlight different aspects, from the city’s development and garden history to firefighting history and places of remembrance.

Art, Theater and Special Collections

The Marietta Gone with the Wind Museum is located in historic Brumby Hall, built in 1851. Its collection includes Scarlett O’Hara’s mourning bonnet, worn by Vivien Leigh, as well as six original costume designs by Walter Plunkett. The exhibits currently on display may change, so check the current exhibitions before your visit.

The Strand Theatre offers live theater, movies, concerts and comedy. Together with the Marietta Cobb Museum of Art, it offers a different perspective on Marietta’s cultural life: one focuses on stage programs, the other on a permanent collection spanning several centuries and changing special exhibitions. If you’re planning your trip around a specific interest in art or theater, these differences can help you choose which places to visit.

Market and Outdoor Trails

The Marietta Square Farmers Market gives farmers and producers the opportunity to sell their goods directly to consumers. Offerings include heirloom tomatoes, as well as fruits and vegetables. Available products vary by week and season, and vendor participation may also change. The market thus complements the museums and historic sites with a glimpse of direct produce sales.

If you’d also like to include a trail in your plans, a section within the city limits of Marietta runs 3.5 miles from Kennesaw Mountain to the area around Kennestone Hospital. Its named endpoints and stated length make this section easy to identify. For getting there, it may also be helpful to know that Marietta is just minutes from Interstate 75.

Explore more destinations: Acworth, Vinings, Austell, Mableton, Powder Springs, Smyrna, Kennesaw

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