News

Exhibits come to life at the Southern Museum in 2007

10/31/06

KENNESAW, GA –The exhibits at the Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History will come to life in 2007, pleasing children, students, and adults with live soldiers, weapons demonstrations, and more.

"At a new event we're having in January, A Night at the Southern Museum, kids will see the magic of exhibits coming to life after closing time," said Jennifer Legates. "There will be conductors and soldiers and others in period costume teaching local Civil War history in entertaining ways."

Another new program at the Museum is a twice-monthly series for preschoolers and their parents called Mommy & Me, giving kids (two to five years of age) a place to imagine and explore history with storytelling and other exciting activities.

And railroad workers from the Glover Machine Works factory will come to life during a theatrical performance by the Kennesaw State University Theatre Department in April.

Discover fun, educational events at the Southern Museum, where history comes to life this winter and spring:

Events/Traveling Exhibits

A Night at the Southern Museum. January 20, 5 – 8 pm. Ever wonder what a museum looks like after dark? Embark on an adventure through the halls of the Southern Museum after the doors close at the end of the day. Imaginations will soar as Civil War soldiers, railroad workers, and more come to life. Tickets are $7.50 for adults, $6.50 for seniors, $5.50 for kids 4-12; and free for children three and under.

Diana Walker: Photojournalist Exhibit. March 24 – June 17. From the famous scene of President Ronald and Nancy Reagan waving from the windows of Bethesda Naval Hospital to Tipper and Al Gore kissing at the 2000 Democratic National Convention, Diana Walker's behind-the-scenes White House photos have appeared in Time and many other reputable news publications. For over 25 years, the talented photographer has captured historic moments, bringing the public face to face with notable figures including foreign dignitaries, political activists like Jesse Jackson, and presidents such as Nelson Mandela of South Africa. Over 80 photographs and magazine covers are the focus of this traveling exhibition produced by the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History and organized for travel by the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service (SITES). Free with Museum admission. For more information contact 770-427-2117.

"You're Darn Tootin': The Glover Machine Works and World War II" Exhibit. March 31 – June 3. American companies like local locomotive manufacturer Glover Machine Works were critical to the military efforts of World War II. In an exhibit-within-an-exhibit, the Southern Museum examines the role local manufacturing companies and their workers played in the largest armed war in the history of the world. Explore the recreated Glover factory complete with WWII propaganda posters and artifacts, and learn how workers at home kept the war moving along. Free with Museum admission. For more information, call 770-427-2117.

Stories of the Past- Student Performances by Kennesaw State University Theatre Department. April 27 & April 28, 7 pm. April 29, 2 pm. Theatrical performances illustrate the stories of several workers employed by the Glover Machine Works in Marietta, Georgia. Oral history interviews conducted by the students are the basis for this unique form of storytelling. Co-sponsored by the Southern Museum of Civil War & Locomotive History and Kennesaw State University's Theatre Department. Admission: $7.50 adults, $5.50 children 4-12, Free for children 3 and under. Free for Museum members and Kennesaw State University faculty/students with ID. For more information contact the Southern Museum's Education Department at 770-427-2117 ext. 3177 or education@southernmuseum.org.

Assault on Big Shanty. April 21 10 am – 4 pm, April 22 12 noon – 4 pm. Soldiers, in both blue and gray, will hold an encampment and conduct weapons firing demonstrations throughout the day as part of the annual Big Shanty Festival in downtown Kennesaw. Event is free. For more information, contact the Education Department at 770-427-2117, ext. 114 or education@southernmuseum.org.

Education

Mommy & Me Children's Program Series. March 15, March 29, April 12, April 26. 10 am – 11 am. Imagine, explore, and create! This program series is designed for pre-school age children ages 2 – 5 years old and their parents. The Museum's history, themes, and exhibits provide a fun and exciting starting point for educational activities. Free with Museum admission (adults $7.50, children 4 – 12 $5.50, children 3 and under free). No reservations required. For more information contact the Education Department at 770-427-2117 ext. 3177 or education@southernmuseum.org.

Homeschool Days. March 5, April 9. 10 am – 4 pm. Homeschooled students can explore the Museum's exhibits for a special rate. Fun, educational programs will be offered hourly, giving homeschooled students a chance to learn more about history. Reservations not required. (Please note: the Museum does not provide group tours on Homeschool Days.) Special admission rates offered: $4 per student (4-12 years), $6 per student (13+) and adults, children 3 and under free. Contact the Education Department for more information at 770-427-2117, ext. 114.

Seminar – Learning Through Objects: Museums and Young Children. February 28, 9 am – 4:30 pm. This special one-day seminar offers interactive workshops to help introduce museum and early childhood educators to the magic of museums. Instructed by the staff of the Smithsonian Early Enrichment Center and hosted by the Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History. Space limited; advance registration required February 19. Cost: register before February 1 for a $75 early-bird special; $95 after February 1. For educators and museum personnel only. For more information or to register, contact the Education Department at 770-427-2117, ext. 114 or at education@southernmuseum.org.

Historical Society Lecture Series: Old Photos of Kennesaw. March 10, 2 – 3 pm. Authors Joe Bozeman, Robert Jones, and Sallie Loy have collected more than 200 old photos of Kennesaw, ranging from the 1880s to the 1980s and published them in the book Images of America: Kennesaw. The authors of this newly released book will showcase some of the unique photographs they discovered followed by a book signing. The event is free of charge. Visitors who would like to tour the Museum before or after the lecture should enter through the front entrance. For more information, contact the Education Department at 770-427-2117, ext. 114 or at education@southernmuseum.org.

Historical Society Lecture Series: "The Story of the Great Locomotive Chase." April 14, 2-3 pm. Chase the history of the famous locomotive the General and the story that made it famous. The event is free of charge. Visitors who would like to tour the Museum before or after the lecture should enter through the front entrance. For more information, contact the Education Department at 770-427-2117, ext. 114 or at education@southernmuseum.org.

A Smithsonian Institution affiliate, the Southern Museum features collections of rare Civil War weapons, uniforms, and other personal items; an exciting exhibit about The Great Locomotive Chase, including a short movie; a full-scale replica of a locomotive factory that helped rebuild the South after the war; and through May, a traveling exhibit featuring photographs of the people who dedicated their lives to the railroad.

The Southern Museum is located 20 miles north of Atlanta, off I-75 at exit 273.  Click here for visitor information, or call (770) 427-2117.