CALENDAR of EVENTS
February
SPONSORED BY
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SPECIAL EXHIBIT
A Victorian Wedding On display January 31-March 2, 2024 During the month of February, visitors to the William Root House will be able to view the house as it would have appeared during a Victorian-era wedding and reception. Nineteenth century wedding illustrations and invitations and an authentic 1860s gown will be displayed during this special exhibit. Exhibit admission is included in the cost of regular museum admission. |
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Super Museum Sunday
February 11, 2024 noon-4:00pm CLHS's William Root House Museum joins over 100 historic sites and museums in Georgia to offer FREE ADMISSION on Georgia Historical Society's Super Museum Sunday. See a list of participating museums. |
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LECTURE AND GUIDED TOUR
Behind Closed Doors: Sex, Love, and Marriage in Victorian America February 23, 2024 6:30pm February 24, 2024 6:30pm Back by popular demand, this special evening lecture examines whether Victorians were as sexually repressed as we perceive them to be today. Topics will range from contraception/birth control methods to the use of photography to spread explicit images during the Civil War. We’ll also discuss the people on the edges of society who were pushing the boundaries of what sex, love, and marriage looked like in the nineteenth century. This program is restricted to guests 18 years or older. By purchasing a ticket you acknowledge that you understand this program will include adult themes. Tickets for this program are $15 per person and must be purchased in advance. |
MARCH
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LECTURE
Civil War Soldier Photography March 16, 2024 6:00pm Historian Chad Carlson will discuss the history of Civil War era photography and share details about images from his personal collection. Chad graduated from Georgia State University and holds a graduate degree in Historic Preservation. Professionally, he serves as a historian at the Georgia Department of Transportation, using his expertise to advance the preservation of Georgia history. Space is limited. Tickets are $10 per person. Tickets must be purchased in advance online. |
APRIL
MAY
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Mother's Day Tea Party
May 11, 2024 11:00am-1:00pm and 2:00pm-4:00pm Join us for our inaugural Mother’s Day Tea Party at the William Root House. This family-friendly event will take place in the Root House garden (weather permitting). Guests will enjoy a variety of finger sandwiches, pastries, and a selection of teas. Each reservation includes a farmhouse table and seating for four guests. Guests are encouraged to have fun dressing up! Space is limited. Table reservations are $150 per table (seats four guests). Reservations are required and must be booked online in advance. |
JUNE
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JUNIOR HISTORIAN CAMP
Pioneer Camp June 3-4, 2024 | 1pm-4pm What was it like to live on the western frontier in the 1830s and 1840s when Marietta was first founded? Campers will learn essential 19th century skills like how to churn butter, sew on a button, and write with a quill pen. We’ll learn about the importance of the railroad, how to sit for a photograph, and demonstrate our best manners and etiquette during a garden tea party while wearing period clothing. Designed for students ages 5-10. |
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Bees and Botany
June 17-18, 2024 | 10am-1pm Junior Historians will learn all about plants and pollinators like bees and butterflies while spending time in the Root House’s historic gardens. They’ll learn to tell the difference between ornamental, medicinal, and edible plants, and learn how to care for plants from our Master Gardeners while creating their own plant field guide. Junior Historians will spend the majority of the day outdoors during this program, so please be sure to wear sunscreen and/or hats. Designed for students ages 5-10. |
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Juneteenth
June 15, 2024 10:00am-4:00pm Join us as we commemorate Juneteenth, an annual celebration of the emancipation of the last remaining enslaved African Americans in the U.S. in June 1865. The day will include guided museum tours, living history demonstrations, storytelling, and more. We are pleased to offer FREE ADMISSION to this program. |
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SPECIAL EXHIBIT
Dressed for Summer On display June 22 - September 28, 2024 Before air conditioning existed, southerners used a variety of tricks to keep their homes airy and cool. This summer, see the historic William Root House dressed as it would have been during the hot months of the 1860s. This exhibit is included with the cost of regular museum admission and is free for Cobb Landmarks members. |
JULY
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Independence Day Fireworks Viewing Party
July 4, 2024 6:00pm-9:30pm Enjoy Marietta’s amazing fireworks display from the best viewing spot in town - the William Root House gardens! Bring your own table decor, beverages, and food. A prize will be awarded to the table with the best decorations. Guests will have access to the restroom in the Root House Visitor Center during the event. Space is limited! Reserve your table below! $300 Reservation
$450 Reservation
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JUNIOR HISTORIAN CAMP
Pioneer Camp July 8-9, 2024 | 10am-1pm What was it like to live on the western frontier in the 1830s and 1840s when Marietta was first founded? Campers will learn essential 19th century skills like how to churn butter, sew on a button, and write with a quill pen. We’ll learn about the importance of the railroad, how to sit for a photograph, and demonstrate our best manners and etiquette during a garden tea party while wearing period clothing. Designed for students ages 5-10. |
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JUNIOR HISTORIAN CAMP
History Investigators July 15-16, 2024 | 10am-1pm Junior Historians will learn how to uncover the secrets of the past and preserve them for the future. They’ll participate in an archaeological dig, investigate “ghost marks” in the Root House, learn the difference between primary and secondary sources, and curate their own exhibit. We’ll conclude with a short walking tour of some of Marietta’s important historical landmarks located near the Root House. Designed for students ages 10-14. |
September
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Root House Harvest Dinner
September 7, 2024 6:00pm-8:30pm This popular experience includes an intimate meal served in the picturesque gardens surrounding the 1840s home. Have a seat at one of our antique farmhouse tables and enjoy a southern-style dinner including appetizers, fried chicken, seasonal vegetables, and dessert. Reserve your table today! |
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Smithsonian Museum Day
TBD In the spirit of the Smithsonian Museums, which offer free admission every day, Museum Day is an annual event hosted by Smithsonian magazine in which participating museums across the country open their doors to anyone presenting a Museum Day ticket. The Museum Day ticket provides free admission for two people. |
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Marietta Roots Beer Festival
September 13, 2024 6:00pm-9:00pm We're excited to welcome Red Hare Brewing & Distilling, Glover Park Brewery, Cherry Street Brewing, Cultivation Brewing Co. and Horned Owl Brewing to the William Root House for Marietta Roots, a celebration of locally crafted beverages and food. Ticket holders will enjoy a selection of local beers, sparkling waters and sodas, including some crafted using hops and herbs grown and harvested from the gardens at the William Root House. |
OCTOBER
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SPECIAL EXHIBIT
Victorian Funeral On display October 2 - November 2, 2024 During the month of October, visitors to the William Root House will see the home decorated for mourning. Curtains will be drawn, and rooms will be adorned with black crepe and ribbons. Daytime tours are included in the cost of regular museum admission. |
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LECTURE
Death, Crime and the Coroner Tales from the Life of William K. Root (1841-1891) October 11, 2024 6:30pm In the 19th century, the first person called to investigate a suspicious death was the coroner, oftentimes an elected official with little to no medical training. Hannah and William Root's eldest son, Willie Root, served as Cobb County coroner from 1883 to 1887. A pharmacist and medical school graduate, Willie Root had a curious relationship with death: serving in gruesome Civil War field hospitals, experiencing personal loss within his family, and witnessing tragic crime scenes as coroner. The lecture will conclude with a tour of the William Root House where a Victorian-era funeral will be on display. This program is restricted to guests 18 years or older. By purchasing a ticket you acknowledge that you understand this program will include violent adult themes. Tickets for this program are $15 per person and must be purchased in advance. |
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LECTURE
Beyond the Veil: Victorians and Spirit Communication October 19, 2024 6:30pm Many Victorians were obsessed with death and the afterlife. Spirit photography, seances, Ouija boards, and automatic writing became popular during this era. Join collector James Freeman of Freeman & Fugate Oddities Company as he delves into the Victorian spiritualism movement and shows off his rare collection of antique oddities including William Mumler spirit photos, spirit trumpets, automatic writing planchettes, spirit slates, and one of the first Ouija boards. This program is restricted to guests 18 years or older. By purchasing a ticket you acknowledge that you understand this program will include discussions about death and spiritualism. Tickets for this program are $30 per person and must be purchased in advance. Refreshments will be served. A guided flashlight tour of our Victorian Funeral exhibit will be offered following the lecture. |
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Victorian Funeral Flashlight Tours
October 18 and 25, 2024 5:00pm-9:00pm During this special after-hours tour, visitors to the William Root House will explore darkened rooms decorated for a Victorian era funeral. Guests will view 19th century embalming equipment, mourning jewelry made from human hair, and other curious artifacts related to death and mourning in the Victorian era. Flashlight tour tickets are $10 in advance and $15 at the door. |
NOVEMBER
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Christmas Orb Workshop
November 9, 2024 10:00am-11:30am & 12:00pm-1:30pm Join us for some festive fun as we create beautiful orb light decorations to illuminate your trees. Learn step-by-step how to assemble these enchanting orbs using chicken wire, lights, and decorative elements. Whether you’re a seasoned crafter or a beginner, this workshop is perfect for anyone who wants to add a touch of personalized magic to their outdoor Christmas decor. Chicken wire for one orb will be provided. Participants should bring their own work gloves and a strand of 100 lights in a color of their choosing as well as any bows, ribbons, or greenery they would like to add. Tickets are $25 per person and must be purchased online in advance. Space is limited. |
DECEMBER
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Silhouettes by Clay Rice
December 5, 2024 3:00pm From his home in Charleston, South Carolina, internationally acclaimed silhouette artist Clay Rice travels throughout the United States cutting portraits and meeting fans at his silhouette cutting events. Silhouette cutting is a Rice family tradition spanning three generations. His work has been featured in Country Living, Southern Living, and Garden and Gun. Clay estimates that he has cut over one million silhouettes in his 40-year career. Space is limited. Each reservation includes 2 copies of one child's silhouette. The total cost is $52 ($10 deposit due at booking and $42 due at the time of the sitting). Additional silhouette copies are $10 each. |
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LECTURE
A History of our Christmas Traditions December 12, 2024 6:30pm Join local historian Andrew Bramlett as he explores the origins of beloved Christmas icons like Santa, Christmas trees, and Rudolph. Andrew, a student at Kennesaw State University and a member of the Kennesaw Historic Preservation Commission and Friends of Kennesaw Mountain, will share the history behind many of our most cherished holiday traditions. Tickets are $15 and must be purchased online in advance. Space is limited. |
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Victorian Christmas & Candlelight Night
December 14, 2024 4:00pm-7:00pm Immerse yourself in the magic of a Victorian-era Christmas. Explore candlelit rooms decorated with festive greens, seasonal fruits, and handcrafted ornaments. This family-friendly event includes cooking demonstrations, live music, and an opportunity to create a holiday keepsake ornament. Candlelight Tour tickets are $10 per person in advance and $15 per person at the door. |
