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Marietta is a city of about 61,000 people and the county seat of Cobb County, about 20 miles northwest of downtown Atlanta. Founded in the 1830s, it was a railroad town on the Western and Atlantic line and saw heavy fighting in the Civil War, and its historic center has kept much of its 19th-century character.
Marietta Square is the heart of the city, a shady park with a fountain and gazebo surrounded by restaurants, shops, theaters and museums. The Marietta Square Farmers Market runs on weekends, and the Strand Theatre, a restored 1935 movie palace, hosts films and live shows. The Marietta Museum of History, in an old cotton warehouse, and the Marietta Gone With the Wind Museum, which holds items from the classic film, are a few steps away. The Marietta National Cemetery and the Confederate Cemetery hold thousands of Civil War soldiers.
Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park, just outside the city, preserves the site of an 1864 battle, with miles of hiking trails and a summit with wide views over Atlanta. The Mountain to River Trail links the park toward the square. Six Flags Over Georgia, the Big Chicken, a 56-foot steel landmark on a fast-food restaurant, and The Battery Atlanta, home of the Atlanta Braves, are all nearby.
The historic heart of Marietta, a lively square of 19th-century brick buildings filled with restaurants, antique shops, boutiques, a theater and museums around a central park. It is easy to spend a whole afternoon here on foot. Free public parking decks sit a block away; evenings and weekends are the busiest.
The shady park in the center of Marietta Square, with a fountain, gazebo, playground, benches and a replica of the old train depot nearby. Concerts, art fairs, movies and holiday events are held here through the year. It is a nice place to rest with a coffee or ice cream from one of the shops around the square.
A national battlefield preserving the site of the 1864 Battle of Kennesaw Mountain, with a visitor center, cannons, earthworks and over 20 miles of hiking trails. A steep trail or shuttle bus leads to the summit with views to Atlanta. Weekends are crowded, so arrive early to find parking near the visitor center.
A year-round Saturday market just off the square, with Georgia farmers selling seasonal produce, eggs, meats, baked goods, honey and flowers, plus local crafts and prepared foods. In summer it also runs on Sundays. Come early for the best selection, and bring a bag; the market is a short walk from the parking decks.
A restored 1935 Art Deco movie palace on Marietta Square with a bright neon marquee, now a nonprofit venue presenting musicals, plays, concerts, comedy and classic film screenings. The interior has been returned to its original look. Check the calendar and book early, as popular shows sell out quickly.
A local history museum inside the 1845 Kennesaw House, a former hotel on the square that played a role in the Civil War's Great Locomotive Chase. Exhibits cover Marietta from Native American times through the Civil War, the Bell Bomber plant and modern days. Allow an hour; admission is modest.
A museum just off the square with a private collection of Gone With the Wind memorabilia, including costumes from the 1939 film such as the honeymoon gown, scripts, posters, autographs and rare editions of the novel. It is a must for fans of the book and movie. Allow about an hour for a visit.
An art museum in a 1909 Classical Revival former post office building near the square, with a permanent collection of American art from the 19th century to today and changing exhibitions throughout the year. It is small enough to see in about an hour. Check the hours, as it is closed on some weekdays.
One of the oldest surviving houses in Marietta, a modest 1845 home of a local merchant restored with period furnishings, a detached kitchen and heirloom gardens. Guided tours explain everyday life in antebellum Georgia, including the enslaved people who worked there. It is a short walk from Marietta Square.
A national cemetery established in 1866 on land donated by a local resident, holding the graves of thousands of Union soldiers who died in the Atlanta Campaign along with veterans of later wars. The rows of white headstones on rolling hills make for a quiet walk. It is a few blocks east of the square.
A historic cemetery next to the city cemetery holding the graves of about 3,000 Confederate soldiers who died in battles and hospitals around Marietta. Markers by state and interpretive signs explain its history. It is a short walk west of the square and can be combined with a downtown history walk.
A 56-foot-tall steel chicken built in 1963 atop a fast food restaurant on Cobb Parkway, with a moving beak and rolling eyes. It is such a well known landmark that locals use it to give directions. Stop for a photo, and see the small souvenir shop inside the KFC restaurant.
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