2025 Events
SPECIAL EXHIBIT
A Victorian Wedding
On display February 1-March 1, 2025
View the William Root House as it would have appeared during a Victorian-era wedding and reception. No wedding had a greater impact on marriage rituals and traditions than Queen Victoria’s wedding to Prince Albert on February 10, 1840. Southerners, in particular, had a fascination with the British aristocracy and eagerly adopted their customs and etiquette. Museum visitors will see how a southern middle-class family like the Roots would have planned their nuptials and learn the origin of many wedding customs and traditions still practiced today. Nineteenth century wedding illustrations and invitations and an authentic 1860s gown will be displayed during this exhibit. This exhibit is included with the cost of regular museum admission and is free for Cobb Landmarks members.
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SPECIAL EXHIBIT
A Victorian Wedding
On display February 1-March 1, 2025
View the William Root House as it would have appeared during a Victorian-era wedding and reception. No wedding had a greater impact on marriage rituals and traditions than Queen Victoria’s wedding to Prince Albert on February 10, 1840. Southerners, in particular, had a fascination with the British aristocracy and eagerly adopted their customs and etiquette. Museum visitors will see how a southern middle-class family like the Roots would have planned their nuptials and learn the origin of many wedding customs and traditions still practiced today. Nineteenth century wedding illustrations and invitations and an authentic 1860s gown will be displayed during this exhibit. This exhibit is included with the cost of regular museum admission and is free for Cobb Landmarks members.
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SPECIAL PRESENTATION
The Legacy of Vertamae Smart-Grosvenor
February 1, 2025 | 10:00am-4:00pm
Join Cobb Landmarks Food Historian, Clarissa Lynch, for a fascinating discussion about the life and work of Vertamae Smart-Grosvenor. Born into a Gullah family in South Carolina in 1937, Smart-Grosvenor's journey took her from Philadelphia to Paris and finally to New York City. Her travels ignited a passion for soul food, leading her to explore food as an expression of her Gullah heritage. While she wrote extensively throughout her career, her 1970 autobiographical cookbook and memoir, Vibration Cooking: or, The Travel Notes of a Geechee Girl, cemented her place in culinary history. During this presentation, Clarissa will bring Smart-Grosvenor's culinary stories to life, preparing Hoppin' John and sweet potato pie on the 1850s wood-burning cookstove at the Root House. This presentation is included in the cost of regular museum admission and is free for Cobb Landmarks members.
Super Museum Sunday
February 9, 2025 | 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.
LECTURE
Love, Courtship & Marriage in Victorian America
February 15, 2025 | 6:30pm
By the 1850s, love matches were in and lace-covered Valentine’s Day cards were all the rage. This special Valentine’s lecture peeks into the Victorian parlor to explore how ladies and gents of the nineteenth century met, courted, and romanced each other while adhering to the strict rules of etiquette that governed daily life. Refreshments will be served. This lecture is restricted to guests 21 years or older. By purchasing a ticket, you acknowledge that you understand this program will include adult themes. Tickets are $20 per person and must be purchased in advance. Space is limited.
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LECTURE
Behind Closed Doors:
Sex, Love, and Marriage in Victorian America
February 28, 2025 | 6:30pm
This special after hours lecture examines whether Victorians were as sexually repressed as we perceive them to be today. Topics will range from Victorian sex education to contraception/birth control methods to the use of photography to spread explicit images during the Civil War. We’ll also discuss the people living on the edges of society who were pushing the boundaries of what sex, love, and marriage looked like in the nineteenth century, and the men and women who tried to root out vice in America with oftentimes disastrous consequences. This lecture is restricted to guests 21 years or older. By purchasing a ticket, you acknowledge that you understand this program will include adult themes. Tickets are $15 per person and must be purchased in advance. Space is limited.
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LECTURE
Cobb County’s Cherokee Voices
March 29, 2025 | 6:30pm
Prior to the infamous Trail of Tears in 1838-39, what is now Cobb County was home to many citizens of the Cherokee Nation. These Native families had an opportunity to file claims against the U.S. Government for the property they were forced to abandon in 1838 - or in some case, property that had been stolen by white citizens of Georgia over many years. In 2022-23, these 1838 claims from the area now including Cobb County were transcribed and digitized by Dr. Andrew Jones and a team of interns at Reinhardt University. Join Dr. Jones as he uncovers our local Native past and considers the importance of remembering the Cherokee people in their own words. Tickets are $15 and must be purchased in advance online. Space is limited.
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Root House Plant Sale & Antique Market
April 26, 2025 | 9:00am-1:00pm
Choose from a wide variety of vintage and native plants. Our annual antique sidewalk sale is the best place to find fantastic prices on antiques and vintage collectibles. As always, 100% of the profits from the plant sale benefit the William Root House Museum & Garden. The sale is always well-attended, and plants and items normally sell quickly, so we encourage you to arrive at 9am for the best selection.
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LECTURE
Jane Austen:
Here, There, and Everywhere
May 2, 2025 | 6:30pm
Jane Austen - a poor unknown rural spinster - wrote six novels and three small volumes of short fiction. Anonymous during her short life, Jane Austen shot to fame after her death in 1817. Since then, her works have inspired a vast array of adaptations—from sequels and prequels to plays, films, television series, and online recreations—as well as a diverse collection of merchandise, including dolls, tea towels, purses, dresses, cookbooks, and more. For a time, her portrait even graced the British 10-pound note. Join Laura Dabundo, Professor of English, emerita, Kennesaw State University, as she explores this extraordinary phenomenon: the enduring legacy of Jane Austen. Tickets are $15 and must be purchased in advance online. Space is limited.
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Mother's Day Candle Workshop
May 3, 2025 | 11:00am
Treat mom to a special candle-making experience! Join The Minted Market Candle Co. for a Mother’s Day candle workshop at the William Root House, where you’ll learn the art of candle making, explore a delightful array of spring fragrances, and pour two custom candles to take home.
Refreshments will be served. Tickets are $75 per person and must be purchased in advance. Space is limited.
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Mother's Day Tea Party
May 10, 2025 | 11:00am-1:00pm & 2:00pm-4:00pm
Join us for our annual 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.
11AM RESERVATIONS ▶
2PM RESERVATIONS ▶
SUMMER CAMP
Pioneer Camp
June 9-10, 2025 | 10:00am-2:00pm
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. Registration is $60 per child. Space is limited. Designed for students ages 5-10.
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GENEALOGY LECTURE
Unearthing Your Roots
June 13, 2025 | 6:30pm
Christopher Smothers is the founder and CEO of Unearthing Your Roots, Inc., a company that provides professional genealogy services. A recent graduate of Clark Atlanta University and current graduate student at Simmons University, Christopher has a passion for helping people discover their roots. Join Christopher for a special presentation where he will share a comprehensive list of every formerly enslaved individual mentioned in Cobb County probate records and share tips on how to use resources like Census Records, Probate Records, and Slave Schedules in genealogical research. Tickets are $15 and must be purchased in advance online. Space is limited.
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Juneteenth Celebration
June 19, 2025 | 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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SUMMER CAMP
Bees & Botany
June 23-24, 2025 | 10:00am-2:00pm
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. Registration is $60 per child. Space is limited. Designed for students ages 5-10.
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Independence Day Fireworks
July 4, 2025 | 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
- Includes one table and seating for four.
- On-site parking for one vehicle is included with this reservation.
$450 Reservation
- Includes one table and seating for six.
- On-site parking for one vehicle is included with this reservation.
SUMMER CAMP
History Investigators
July 7-8, 2025 | 10:00am-2:00pm
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. Registration is $60 per child. Space is limited. Designed for students ages 10-15.
REGISTER ONLINE ▶
SUMMER CAMP
Pioneer Camp
July 14-15, 2025 | 10:00am-2:00pm
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. Registration is $60 per child. Space is limited. Designed for students ages 5-10.
REGISTER ONLINE ▶
LECTURE
The Georgia Military Institute
August 7, 2025 | 6:30pm
Join renowned Civil War photography collector David Vaughan for a fascinating presentation about the Georgia Military Institute (GMI), a state military college that operated in Marietta from 1851 until its destruction by Union troops in 1864. During the presentation, David will discuss the history of the 110-acre campus and show images from his collection of rare GMI Cadet portraits. Attendees are invited to bring their own Civil War-era images for examination, but no appraisals will be provided. Tickets are $20 and must be purchased in advance online. Space is limited.
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Root House Harvest Dinner
September 13, 2025 | 6:00pm-8:30pm
Don’t miss a special evening of rustic elegance at the William Root House. This ultimate insider experience includes a private tour of the museum followed by an intimate candlelit meal served on the grounds of the antebellum home. The southern-style dinner will include appetizers, fried chicken, seasonal vegetables, and dessert.
COMING SOON
SPECIAL EXHIBIT
Victorian Funeral
On display October 1 - November 1, 2025
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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VIP EXPERIENCE
Midnight Wake
October 11, 2025 | 11:30pm
Hannah Root's father, Leonard Simpson, died in the Root House on October 11, 1856. Upon his death, the Root family would have observed a wake, maintaining a vigil over his body in the period between his passing and burial. During this VIP experience, guests will be guided through the house's candlelit rooms and learn about 19th-century embalming and funeral practices. As midnight approaches, guests will gather to recite a poem about death, written by Leonard Simpson himself in 1839. This program is restricted to guests 12 years or older. By purchasing a ticket, you acknowledge that you understand this program will include adult themes. Tickets for this program are $50 per person and must be purchased in advance. Space is extremely limited.
COMING SOON
LECTURE
Trapped in Glass:
Victorians and Spirit Photography
October 18, 2025 | 6:30pm
Many Victorians were obsessed with death and the afterlife, and they believed they could use the ever-changing medium of photography to capture the dead. Join collector James Freeman of Freeman & Fugate Oddities Company as he returns to the Root House to display his rare collection of post-mortem and spirit photographs, including some of William Mumler’s most famous spirit portraits. 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.
COMING SOON
LECTURE
Death, Crime and the Coroner
Tales from the Life of William K. Root (1841-1891)
October 24, 2025 | 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. 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.
COMING SOON
Victorian Funeral Flashlight Tours
October 25, 2025 | 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.
COMING SOON
Victorian Christmas Candlelight Night
December 12, 2025 | 4:00pm-7:00pm
The William Root House in downtown Marietta will be transformed for the holidays. Candlelit rooms will be decorated with live greens, fruit, and handmade decorations in the style of the 1860s. Candlelight Tour tickets are $10 per person.
COMING SOON
Santa's Gingerbread Workshop
December 13, 2025 | Sittings available at 10:00am, 11:30am, 1:00pm, and 2:30pm
Join us for a festive holiday event perfect for all ages. Each table reservation includes everything you need to build one gingerbread house, including gingerbread, icing, and candy. Plus, enjoy a decadent hot cocoa bar AND a special visit from Santa himself! And the grand finale? A chance to meet Santa and snap a picture by the fireplace in our cozy log cabin. Get ready for a sugar rush of holiday fun! Space is limited. Table reservations are $150 per table (seats four guests). Reservations are required and must be booked online in advance.
COMING SOON
