Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History facts for kids
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| Former name | Big Shanty Museum |
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| Established | April 12, 1972 |
| Location | Kennesaw, Georgia |
| Type | Technology Museum |
The Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History is a fun museum in Kennesaw, Georgia. It has a great collection of items from the American Civil War. You can also see things from the railroads of Georgia and nearby areas. The most famous item is the General. This is a steam locomotive (a train engine) that was part of the exciting Great Locomotive Chase in April 1862.
The museum also keeps many old documents and photos. These show how railroads grew in the South after the Civil War. You can also find letters, diaries, and official papers from the Civil War time.
History of the Museum
The museum first opened on April 12, 1972. This was exactly 110 years after the Great Locomotive Chase happened! Back then, it was called the Big Shanty Museum. It was in an old barn that used to hold a cotton gin. The General train was the main attraction. Later, the museum started to include more items from the Civil War.
In the late 1990s, a company called Glover Machine Works was going to be torn down. This company made parts for trains. Its buildings had been empty for almost 50 years. Inside, there were still old records, train parts, and machines. There was even a whole train that had barely been used! The Glover family, who owned the company, gave all these items to the museum in 2001.
Growing the Museum
Because the museum got so many new items, it closed in late 2001. It needed to get much bigger to hold everything! During the building work, a large wooden box was built over the General train to keep it safe. The new, bigger museum opened in March 2003. It was then renamed the Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History.
The museum grew even more in 2007. This was to make space for a special French train car. This car was part of the Merci Train (or "Thank You Train"). France sent these cars to the United States after World War II to say thank you for America's help.
