Kennesaw House facts for kids
The Kennesaw House is an old, three-story building in downtown Marietta, Georgia. Today, it's home to the Marietta History Center. You can find it near the town square, right next to the train tracks.
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A Look Back at Kennesaw House History
The Kennesaw House was built in 1845. This makes it one of the oldest buildings in Marietta. It was first meant to be a place to store cotton.
From Warehouse to Hotel: The Fletcher House
In 1855, a man named Dix Fletcher bought the building. He turned it into a hotel called the Fletcher House. This hotel became famous because of a big event during the American Civil War.
The Great Locomotive Chase Begins Here
The Great Locomotive Chase started right at the Fletcher House. On April 11, 1862, a man named James Andrews and some Union soldiers stayed the night there. They were disguised. The next morning, April 12, they boarded a train with other passengers. Their plan was to steal the train.
You can even see a recreated room at the Marietta History Center. It shows what the room where Andrews and his men supposedly slept might have looked like.
Surviving the Civil War
During the Civil War, many buildings in Marietta were burned. But the Kennesaw House was saved! This was partly because Dix Fletcher was a Freemason. Also, his son-in-law was a Union spy.
Like many buildings in Marietta, the Kennesaw House was used as a hospital during the war. It helped both Confederate and Union soldiers.
Changes Over the Years
In 1920, the first floor of the building was updated. It became a place for retail shops.
Major Renovation in 1979
A big renovation happened in 1979. Workers removed the white covering on the outside. This showed the original brick walls. Most of the inside was rebuilt. Only the wooden staircases and some fireplaces remained from the original building. After this, the top two floors became offices. The bottom floor was a restaurant called Brickworks.
Home to the Marietta History Center
In 1996, the Marietta Museum of History moved into the second floor. This museum is now called the Marietta History Center. Later, they took over the third floor too.
Since 2010, the Marietta History Center uses the entire building. The first floor has space for events, a museum store, and staff offices. The second floor is where you can see all the exhibits and galleries. The third floor holds the museum's collections and more staff offices.
