Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History in Kennesaw, Georgia
Museum with a major rail exhibitOpen Tuesday to Saturday, 9:30 am to 5 pm
The Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History in Kennesaw is home to the General, the Western and Atlantic Railroad locomotive at the heart of the Great Locomotive Chase of April 12, 1862, and it explores how railroads shaped the Civil War and the South that followed.
- Home of the General locomotive
- Opened in 1972 as Big Shanty Museum
- Smithsonian Institution affiliate
- Georgia's Merci Boxcar
- Recreated locomotive factory
- Run by the City of Kennesaw
Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History at a glance
- Hours
- Tuesday to Saturday, 9:30 am to 5 pm
- Admission
- Not listed on the city page; check southernmuseum.org
- Seasonal events
- Mommy and Me, Homeschool Workshop Series, Seasonal special events
- Plan for
- About 2 hours
- Best for
- Civil War and railroad history fans, families with school-age kids
- Best ages
- Preschool to teens
Hours and prices as the museum posts them, checked October 19, 2026. Confirm before you go.
Look inside the book
Taking the kids to Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History? Bring Rally along.
In Rally Takes the Train, a corgi's little legs can't manage the big train stairs, so Dad gives him a boost. It takes about five minutes to read, a good fit for the drive to Kennesaw.
Rally Takes the Train
Eight pages from the book
Turn the page
That's 8 of 25 pages
See who’s waiting at the station
Grandmommy and Papa are at the last stop. Get the full hand-painted book, $13.99 on Amazon.
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25 hand-painted pages, paperback, $13.99 with fast shipping from Amazon.
Every page is real watercolor on paper, painted by hand by Leslie Dunn. Nothing in this book was made with AI.
Big Shanty, the General and the chase that made a town famous
On April 12, 1862, the Western and Atlantic Railroad locomotive the General was stolen, setting off what history remembers as the Great Locomotive Chase. The event raised both the engine and Big Shanty, the railroad stop that is now the City of Kennesaw, to prominence during the Civil War, and the General became one of the best known locomotives in the country.
In 1972 the Big Shanty Museum opened in Kennesaw to showcase the General and tell the story of the chase. The museum was also known as the Kennesaw Civil War Museum. Over the years it widened its scope beyond that single day, collecting artifacts from the Civil War and from the railroads of Georgia and the surrounding region, and taking on its current name.
Today the City of Kennesaw owns and operates the museum under Executive Director Dr. Richard Banz, and it is an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution. It has been honored with the nation's highest award for museums and libraries. Along with the exhibits, it keeps a Railroad Education Center Library and Archives that offers full archival services to researchers, and it runs tours, school programs and seasonal events for families across metro Atlanta.
The General, a locomotive factory and a gift from France
The General is the centerpiece, displayed with an exhibit that brings the Great Locomotive Chase to life and shows how both sides relied on railroads during the war. Other galleries look at the daily lives of Civil War soldiers and at the strategic and economic role of railroads during and after the conflict.
A reproduction of a turn-of-the-century locomotive factory shows how engines were built in the years after the war, and Georgia's Merci Boxcar has a place in the collection as well. The Jolley Education Center is full of hands-on interactive exhibits for kids. The museum also hosts traveling exhibits, and its gift shop, the General Emporium, sells Civil War and railroad items, toys, model trains and its own Lacy House jams and sauces.
Don’t miss
- The GeneralThe Western and Atlantic locomotive stolen in 1862 is the reason the museum exists.
- The Great Locomotive Chase exhibitIt depicts the April 12, 1862 chase that made the General and Kennesaw famous.
- Georgia's Merci BoxcarGeorgia's own Merci Boxcar is one of the museum's featured exhibits, worth asking staff about.
- The locomotive factory reproductionA recreated turn-of-the-century factory shows how steam locomotives were built after the war.
- The Jolley Education CenterHands-on interactive exhibits make this the place to let younger kids explore.
Hands-on play at the Jolley Education Center
The Jolley Education Center is the stop for young visitors, with hands-on interactive exhibits. The museum runs Mommy and Me programs for young children and a Homeschool Workshop Series, plus interpretive tours that help school-age kids follow the story of the chase.
Seeing a real locomotive from a famous adventure story works well for kids around 6 and up, while toddlers will get the most from the Jolley Education Center and the Mommy and Me sessions. The museum is indoors, which helps on hot Georgia days.
Plan your visit: tips for Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History
- The museum is closed Sunday and Monday.
- Call (770) 427-2117 for the current schedule of programs and events.
- Groups can book discounted group tours.
- Researchers can use the Railroad Education Center Library and Archives.
A city museum with a Smithsonian connection
The City of Kennesaw operates the Southern Museum, led by Executive Director Dr. Richard Banz, and it is a Smithsonian Institution affiliate. Visitors support it by buying admission, booking group tours and programs, and shopping at the General Emporium gift shop. For questions about jobs or helping out, call the museum at (770) 427-2117.
Pair Kennesaw with these train stops
The Southeastern Railway Museum in Duluth, about 27 miles away, adds caboose rides and dozens of walk-through cars. The Stone Mountain Scenic Railroad is about 31 miles east, and the Historic Summerville Depot is about 52 miles northwest. See our Georgia train museum list for more.
- Southeastern Railway MuseumDuluth, GA · about 27 mi
- Stone Mountain Scenic RailroadStone Mountain, GA · about 31 mi
- Historic Summerville DepotSummerville, GA · about 52 mi
- Blue Ridge Scenic RailwayBlue Ridge, GA · about 62 mi
- Lookout Mountain Incline RailwayChattanooga, TN · about 79 mi
- Tennessee Valley Railroad MuseumChattanooga, TN · about 79 mi
Bring Rally along: a train book for the drive
The General is the kind of engine that makes a kid press their nose to the glass. In our book, Rally does exactly that, gazing out an arched window at the ocean and saying hello to a white bird. My children are learning to read, and they like to guess what Rally sees next. That window page is one of my favorites to share with them, and it is in our coloring pages too.
Free for train families
Print the Rally coloring pages before you go
Watercolor coloring pages from the book, free to print. Tuck a few in a folder with crayons for the drive or the wait for the next train.
Get the free coloring pages
A train story for the ride homeRally Takes the Train is a five-minute rhyming picture book about a corgi's first train trip to see his grand-paw-rents. Hand-painted in real watercolor. $13.99 on Amazon, for ages 0 to 8.
Buy on Amazon (opens in a new tab)More for train families
- Train museums in Georgia: every museum by town, with a map
- Train museums in every state: search by town or near you
- Christmas train rides in Georgia
- Halloween train rides in Georgia
- Every Amtrak route with kids
Work or volunteer at Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History?
We want this page to be the best introduction to your museum on the web. Send new hours, event dates, corrections or photos to kelsey@rallytakesthetrain.com and we will update it. You are welcome to share this page with your members.
Sources
Everything on this page comes from the museum’s own website and social pages and, for history, Wikipedia, checked October 19, 2026.
Southern Museum in Kennesaw: 20 questions visitors ask
Where is the Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History?
The museum is at 2829 Cherokee Street in Kennesaw, Georgia 30144, in the town that was called Big Shanty during the Civil War. Kennesaw is in Cobb County in the Atlanta area. Call (770) 427-2117 if you need directions or have questions before you go.
What are the Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History hours?
As of October 2026, the museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 9:30 am to 5 pm, according to the City of Kennesaw. It is closed Sunday and Monday. Holiday hours are not posted on the city page, so call (770) 427-2117 or check southernmuseum.org before a holiday visit.
How much are Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History tickets?
The City of Kennesaw page does not list ticket prices. Check the visit page at southernmuseum.org or call (770) 427-2117 for current admission. The museum offers discounted group tours, so if you are bringing a school, scout or senior group, ask about group rates when you book.
What is the General locomotive at the Southern Museum?
The General is a Western and Atlantic Railroad steam locomotive and the centerpiece of the museum. It was stolen during the Great Locomotive Chase on April 12, 1862, an event that made the engine and Big Shanty, now Kennesaw, famous. The museum first opened in 1972 to display it and tell that story.
What was the Great Locomotive Chase?
The Great Locomotive Chase was a Civil War event on April 12, 1862, in which the General was stolen and chased, bringing the locomotive and the town of Big Shanty lasting fame. The Southern Museum tells the full story in an exhibit depicting the chase, with the General itself on display.
When did the Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History open?
The museum opened in 1972 as the Big Shanty Museum, built to display the General and tell the story of the Great Locomotive Chase. It was also known as the Kennesaw Civil War Museum. Over time its collection grew to cover the Civil War and Georgia's railroads more broadly, and it took its current name.
Who owns the Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History?
The City of Kennesaw owns and operates the museum, which is led by Executive Director Dr. Richard Banz. It is also a Smithsonian Institution affiliate. You can reach the museum directly at (770) 427-2117 or info@southernmuseum.org.
Is the Southern Museum a Smithsonian museum?
It is a Smithsonian Institution affiliate, part of the Smithsonian Affiliations network, but it is owned and run by the City of Kennesaw. The museum has also received the nation's highest honor for museums and libraries, according to its website.
What exhibits are at the Southern Museum besides the General?
Exhibits look at the daily lives of Civil War soldiers and the role railroads played during and after the war. There is a reproduction of a turn-of-the-century locomotive factory, Georgia's Merci Boxcar, a depiction of the Great Locomotive Chase, hands-on exhibits in the Jolley Education Center and changing traveling exhibits.
Is the Southern Museum in Kennesaw good for kids?
Yes. Children can see a real locomotive from a famous true adventure, and the Jolley Education Center has hands-on interactive exhibits. The museum runs Mommy and Me programs for young children and a Homeschool Workshop Series. Being indoors, it is a good choice on hot or rainy days.
What upcoming events are at the Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History?
The museum offers special seasonal events, interpretive tours, Mommy and Me sessions and homeschool workshops, along with traveling exhibits. For the current schedule, call (770) 427-2117 or check the events listings at southernmuseum.org, since dates change through the year.
Does the Southern Museum have a gift shop?
Yes. The General Emporium sells Civil War and railroad items, including clothing, collectibles, toys and model trains. It also carries the museum's own line of Lacy House jams, jellies and sauces, which makes it a fun stop for gifts on the way out.
Can you ride a train at the Southern Museum in Kennesaw?
The museum does not list train rides; it is an indoor museum built around the General and its exhibits. For a ride, the Southeastern Railway Museum in Duluth, about 27 miles away, runs caboose rides, and the Stone Mountain Scenic Railroad is about 31 miles away.
What is the Merci Boxcar at the Southern Museum?
Georgia's Merci Boxcar is one of the featured exhibits at the Southern Museum, listed by the city alongside the General and the locomotive factory reproduction. To learn its full story, ask museum staff during your visit or call (770) 427-2117 ahead of time to ask about related programs.
Does the Southern Museum offer group tours and field trips?
Yes. The museum offers discounted group tours and interpretive tours, plus a Homeschool Workshop Series and traveling exhibits for schools and community groups. Call (770) 427-2117 to book or to ask what programs fit your group's ages.
Does the Southern Museum have a research library?
Yes. The Railroad Education Center Library and Archives offers full archival services for researchers interested in railroad and Civil War history. Contact the museum at (770) 427-2117 or info@southernmuseum.org ahead of time to arrange a research visit.
Are there jobs at the Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History?
Because the City of Kennesaw operates the museum, staff openings are posted through the city's hiring process. Check the City of Kennesaw website for current job listings, or call the museum at (770) 427-2117 to ask about openings and volunteer opportunities.
How long does a visit to the Southern Museum take?
Most visitors can see the General, the Great Locomotive Chase exhibit, the factory reproduction and the other galleries in about two hours. Allow extra time if children want to linger in the Jolley Education Center or if you plan to browse the gift shop.
Is the Southern Museum open on Sunday or Monday?
No. As of October 2026, the museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 9:30 am to 5 pm and closed Sundays and Mondays. Plan a weekend visit for Saturday, and call (770) 427-2117 to confirm any holiday changes.
What other train museums are near Kennesaw?
The Southeastern Railway Museum in Duluth is about 27 miles away, the Stone Mountain Scenic Railroad about 31 miles, and the Historic Summerville Depot about 52 miles. The Blue Ridge Scenic Railway is about 62 miles north, and Chattanooga's Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum is about 79 miles.
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