The historic town of Kennesaw, Georgia, located twenty miles northwest of Atlanta, is home to the Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History. Kennesaw was known as Big Shanty in the 19th century and grew up as a stop along the Western & Atlantic Railroad. As Union forces marched on Atlanta during the Civil War, several battles and skirmishes were fought in the area. Many attempts were made to disrupt the movement of supplies by rail. Big Shanty is best remembered as the place where “The Great Locomotive Chase” originated. Yankee spies stole a locomotive named “The General” on April 12, 1862 while it was stopped at the Big Shanty station. The locomotive was driven north to Chattanooga, Tennessee. A manhunt followed and the locomotive was recaptured in Ringgold, Georgia, just south of the Tennessee state line.

The 1957 Disney film “The Great Locomotive Chase” told the story of “The General” and the area’s Civil War history. In 1962, “The General” again made the trip from Big Shanty (Kennesaw) to Chattanooga. The locomotive was permanently returned to Kennesaw in 1972 after a lengthy lawsuit with the City of Chattanooga. Today it is the centerpiece of the Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History. The museum is a member of the Smithsonian Affiliate Program, which allows it to host traveling Smithsonian exhibits and feature Smithsonian artifacts in its display collections.

The story of “The General” and his theft and recovery is told in The Great Locomotive Chase exhibit. The importance of railroads during the Civil War is explored in the exhibit Railroads: Lifelines of the Civil War. The museum’s Working Safely on the Railroad exhibit is an interactive hub that focuses on safety. Glover Machine Works is a fully restored belt-driven locomotive assembly line that originally operated in the city of Marietta, Georgia. The museum displays a number of artifacts from the Civil War period, including weapons, medical equipment, uniforms, and personal items belonging to soldiers.

The museum’s Jolley Education Center has interactive learning stations for children to explore. There is a diesel train simulator where kids can learn to be train drivers and engineers. A telegraph station allows visitors to try Morse code. A replica of the early Kennesaw gives kids a chance to dress up in period clothing and a game shop.

The Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History is located at 2829 Cherokee Street. Museum hours are Monday through Saturday from 9:30 am to 5 pm and Sunday from 11 am to 6 pm Admission is $7 for adults and $5.50 for children ages 4-12. Children 3 years and under are free.