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Roswell is a city of about 95,000 people on the Chattahoochee River, about 20 miles north of downtown Atlanta. It was founded in the 1830s by Roswell King, who built cotton mills on Vickery Creek, and its historic district is one of the best preserved in the Atlanta area, with antebellum homes, the old mill village and a lively downtown.
Three historic house museums tell Roswell's story: Bulloch Hall, the childhood home of Mittie Bulloch, mother of President Theodore Roosevelt, who married there in 1853; Barrington Hall, a grand Greek Revival mansion with gardens; and Smith Plantation, which also explores the lives of the people enslaved there. Along Vickery Creek, the Roswell Mill ruins, a dam and waterfall, and a covered pedestrian bridge are reached by trails through the woods, part of the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area.
Canton Street, in the historic downtown, is lined with restaurants, bars and boutiques, and Alive in Roswell street festivals run through the warmer months. Riverside Park and the Roswell Riverwalk follow the Chattahoochee for walking and biking, and the Chattahoochee Nature Center offers boardwalks through river marshes, wildlife exhibits and canoe trips. Big Creek Greenway and the shops of Alpharetta are close by.
Greek Revival mansion built in 1839, the childhood home of Mittie Bulloch, mother of President Theodore Roosevelt, who married here in 1853. Tours cover the house, restored slave quarters and gardens. Check the tour times, and visit at Christmas when the house is decorated for the season.
Columned Greek Revival home completed in the 1840s for Barrington King, son of Roswell's founder, set in gardens above the town square. Tours show period rooms and family history. Allow an hour for the house and grounds, and combine it with nearby Bulloch Hall.
Plantation home from the 1840s with many original outbuildings and much of the family's furniture still in place, now a museum owned by the city. Tours explain plantation life and the enslaved people who worked there. Check tour times, as visits are guided only.
Town square at the heart of historic Roswell, laid out in the 1830s, with a shaded park, monuments and the old commercial buildings around it. It is the starting point for walking tours of the historic homes. Pick up a map at the nearby visitor center and walk from here.
Ruins of the Roswell textile mills, burned by Union troops in 1864, set beside Vickery Creek with a dam and waterfall. A covered footbridge and wooded trails lead into the national recreation area. Wear good shoes for the hills, and look for the dam overlook for the best photos.
Paved trail and boardwalk along the Chattahoochee River from Riverside Park, with river views, playgrounds, picnic areas and fishing spots. It is popular with walkers, runners and cyclists. Come early in the morning for cool air and mist over the river.
Wooded city park with walking trails through forest and around a small lake, plus picnic areas and a historic house on the grounds. It is a quieter alternative to the busy riverside parks. Bring a picnic and walk the trail loop, which is easy enough for families.
Large city park with a swimming pool, gym, playgrounds, sports fields, a small lake for fishing and paved walking paths. It is the hub of Roswell's recreation programs. Visit with kids on a summer day, and check pool hours, which change through the season.
Nature center on the Chattahoochee River with trails, a boardwalk through wetlands and habitats for rescued animals like bald eagles, owls and otters. It also has a butterfly garden and canoe trips in summer. Come in the morning when animals are active, and allow two hours.
Historic main street in Roswell lined with restaurants, wine bars, boutiques and art galleries in old buildings. It is the city's top spot for dinner and evening strolls. Make reservations at popular restaurants on weekends, and park in the free public lots nearby.
City-run arts venue with a theater for plays, dance and concerts, plus arts classes for children and adults. Local theater groups stage shows through the year. Check the calendar for performances, and pair a show with dinner on Canton Street.
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Log in to add photosPhoto: R.T., Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.5
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