You don’t have to be a train enthusiast or Civil War buff to enjoy The Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History in Kennesaw. Families visit the museum for their fun events, kid-friendly activities and of course, to see amazing trains. If it hasn’t been on your radar, check out our favorite things to do there.

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See Cool, Historical Trains

Visitors’ favorite exhibit is undoubtedly The General locomotive which was the actual train used in the Great Locomotive Chase of 1862 in North Georgia. If you don’t know the story of the Chase, that’s okay. They show a 20-minute movie about it every hour. Be sure to also check out Grover Machine Works, the only fully restored belt-driven locomotive assembly line in the country. It was instrumental in industrializing Georgia after the Civil War.

Pretend to Drive a Train

Kids gravitate to the Southern Museum’s deluxe railway train simulator. There, kids pretend to be a train engineer, driving a virtual train through a variety of terrains. Yes, adults enjoy it too.

Participate in Kid-Friendly Activities

Parents with preschool-aged children love the museum’s Mommy and Me program on Thursday mornings. Kids and caregivers get to play, create, and learn through guided lessons and activities. For kids who prefer a quieter environment, the museum offers Sensory Friendly afternoons on the last Tuesday of each month. They eliminate extra noise and offer a quiet room where kids can focus and not feel overwhelmed.

Have a Party

Birthday kids (especially train enthusiasts) love to party at The Southern Museum. They provide a whole classroom for your guests with the party package. The cost for the party includes museum admission for 25 guests.

Play and Explore

For hands-on, interactive play, check out the Jolley Education Center (which is where you will find the train simulator too). There, kids can tap out messages in Morse Code at two telegraph stations as well as try on old fashion clothes at the museum’s replica of a 19th century village. Little ones love the wood trains and tracks and a soft train for climbing.

Attend Special Events

Families will find fun events almost every month.  Check out their event calendar for events like “Trains, trains, trains” which is a huge model train weekend in January. Kids also love the Polar Express Adventure in December.

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