17 Apr - Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park and Gone With the Wind Museum

 Today we started our day driving a few miles to the Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park visitor center.  It was a great experience before we ever left the truck!  We were greeted by a very friendly National Park Service person in the parking lot that quickly recognized our big ol' brown truck as an oversized vehicle and directed us past the 100% full parking lot to one of eight RV/Bus/Large Vehicle parking spots they had cordoned off.  Today was apparently the first day of National Park Week and there was no admission charge or parking fees.  Score!  Our Access Pass would have gotten us in without a fee but we may have still had to pay to park.  Not today!  Thank you to the wonderful National Park Service personnel!

But no, there is more!  So we walked from the parking lot into the visitor center and were greeted by the friendliest Chicago native White Sox Fan volunteer that you could ever want.  This young lady literally bent over backwards to help us.  After figuring out what we were wanting to see she provided the brochures and instructions to make sure our visit was great.  She even gave us a park map that was supposedly the last one in the office.  Maybe southern hospitality, or whatever but we were thoroughly impressed with everything about this place!

Inside the visitor center is a well-stocked gift shop and a very informative museum.  Doreen got several different brochures and I purchased a DVD that includes a re-enactment the history of the battle of Kennesaw Mountain.   (We watched this DVD tonight and it was very informative).  A few museum pictures:

Manufacturing markings on the muzzle of most cannon barrels.  Now you know!

Most interesting.  You had to have a minimum amount of teeth to fight.  Required .."to tear open the paper-wrapped cartridges"!

We made our way through the museum and tried to educate ourselves the significance of Marietta, Atlanta and Kennesaw Mountain.  During all of our travels we have really enjoyed the beauties of the United States and also we've enjoyed learning more about our history.  We have really enjoyed our travels through the south and also in the New England areas as it pertains to our wars.  We camped near Gettysburg almost two weeks.  This year after our 16 night stay at Washington DC we deliberately are going back up into Pennsylvania so we can visit Valley Forge which we missed the last time.  Also this year we modified our travels up the east coast so we could visit areas such as Appomattox, where the Civil War ended.  We just cannot get tired of visiting battlefields and museums that help to paint the picture of our Nation's past.  

After visiting the museum we grabbed our trekking poles, some water and headed up the mountain.  There are two trails, one that is a dirt path and one that is blacktopped.  We chose the blacktopped path even though it is longer.  The total hike was over 2.2 miles with an altitude gain of 708 ft.  The scenery was great and there were many making the trek!.  

A memorial to the Georgia Confederate Soldiers along the hike

The Atlanta skyline in the distance

Mr Hawk keeping an eye on us.

Some blooming wild flowers along the path

Very proud of Doreen making this trek!

One of the cannons used to defend Kennesaw Mountain

Atlanta fell to the Union Soldiers and was a huge crack in the Confederate lines

The USCGS markers at the top of Kennesaw Mountain.  We have arrived!!

Taking a break at one of the overlooks before we head back down.

Our view of Pigeon Mountain, one of the other significant battles near Kennesaw Mountain.  

Doreen's step count today.  Very proud of her!

After returning from the climb and rehydrating we drove south back into Marietta to the Gone With the Wind Museum which is located in the Brumby Hall building.  I had to ask the question what the tie was Gone With the Wind and this location.  Bottom line is there is none, other than time period.  Brumby Hall where the collection is located was built in 1851.  A local, Dr Christopher Sullivan owns the Gone With the Wind collection and it was moved into this historic building for all to enjoy!  

We parked next door at the Hilton Hotel and walked to the Brumby Hall.  Apparently on this location was the famous Georgia Military Institute for many years.  

Not far away os the Brumby Hall, home of the Gone With the Wind Museum.  

Entrance to the Brumby Hall

Doreen and Scarlett O'Hara

We were both tired after trekking the Kennesaw Mountain Battlefield, so we headed back to the campground to relax.  Not long after returning a young lady pulled in and needed some assistance backing her camper.  Travelling alone with her dog, come to find out she was originally from Des Moines, graduated Hoover High School!  Small worls.

Tomorrow we tour Truist Park and make preparation for departure Monday morning.

Thanks for joining us on this journey!