2026 Events
SPECIAL EXHIBIT
A Victorian Wedding
On display February 7-28, 2026
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 7-28, 2026
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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Super Museum Sunday
February 8, 2026 | 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
Behind Closed Doors:
Sex in Victorian America
February 26, 2026 | 6:30pm
The Third Door
Were Victorians as sexually repressed as we perceive them to be? Join us at The Third Door for a lecture exploring the complex social and private lives of nineteenth century Americans. We'll cover a wide range of topics, from Victorian-era sex education and contraception to the emergence of explicit photography during the Civil War. We will also examine those on the fringes of society—from celibates to polygamists—who redefined the boundaries of love and marriage, alongside the activists who sought to regulate morality (often with unintended consequences). This lecture is restricted to guests 21+. By purchasing a ticket, you acknowledge that you understand this program will include adult themes. Tickets for this program are $30 per person and must be purchased in advance. Each lecture ticket includes one signature drink ticket (valued at $10). Doors open at 6:00pm. Lecture begins at 6:30pm.
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LECTURE
Homesteading & Folk Herbalism with Grant Wallace
April 18, 2026 | 4:00pm
Join us for an inspiring afternoon with Atlanta farmer and entrepreneur Grant Wallace. Grant will share about his journey from starting a backyard garden to cultivating herbs for Atlanta’s top chefs, ultimately leading to the establishment of Moonie Mart, his modern take on a country store. Grant will discuss the rewards of homesteading and embracing self-reliance, and how prioritizing simplicity can enrich your daily life. Space is limited. Tickets are $15 and must be purchased online in advance.
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Plant Sale & Antique Market
May 2, 2026 | 9:00am-1:00pm
A beloved Marietta tradition, the annual Root House Plant Sale & Antique Market returns on May 2nd. This unique sale offers shoppers a wide selection of vintage and native Georgia plants, many of which can be found growing in the Root House gardens. In addition to plants, we'll have a sidewalk sale with antique and vintage decor and garden items. Our Gift Shop will have a variety of garden items available for purchase including small batch botanical products. Availability is limited and all plants and items are sold first-come, first-served, so plan to attend the preview sale or arrive right at 9:00am for the best selection.
PREVIEW SALE
Join us for an exclusive preview night on May 1, 2026 from 5:00pm to 7:00pm. Enjoy early access to our sale, and purchase plants and items before they’re available to the general public. Tickets are $10 and must be purchased online in advance.
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Mother’s Day Tea Party
May 9, 2026 | 11am-12:30pm & 1pm-2:30pm
Join us for our annual Mother’s Day Tea Party at the William Root House. This family-friendly event will take place indoors, or in the Root House gardens (weather permitting). Guests will enjoy a variety of finger sandwiches and 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 $180 per table (seats four guests). Reservations are required.
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Bees and Botany Summer Camp
June 8-9, 2026 | 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, taste test different flavors of honey, 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.
REGISTER
Juneteenth Celebration
June 19, 2026 | 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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Pioneer Summer Camp
June 29-30, 2026 | 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 tea party while wearing period clothing. 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.
Mary Hannah's Finishing School Summer Camp
July 23-24, 2026 | 10:00am-2:00pm
The finishing school was a place for young ladies to learn the essentials of 19th century life: proper etiquette and table manners, arts, music, languages, needlework, and dancing. Campers at Mary Hannah’s Finishing School will create their own calling cards, paint fans, practice how to bow and curtsy properly, and learn the steps to the Virginia Reel and other popular period dances. They’ll show off their new skills by attending a ball in period attire. Designed for students ages 8-12. This camp will be run and facilitated by the Root House Junior Historians, our high school aged-volunteers, under adult supervision.
REGISTER
July 23-24, 2026 | 10:00am-2:00pm
The finishing school was a place for young ladies to learn the essentials of 19th century life: proper etiquette and table manners, arts, music, languages, needlework, and dancing. Campers at Mary Hannah’s Finishing School will create their own calling cards, paint fans, practice how to bow and curtsy properly, and learn the steps to the Virginia Reel and other popular period dances. They’ll show off their new skills by attending a ball in period attire. Designed for students ages 8-12. This camp will be run and facilitated by the Root House Junior Historians, our high school aged-volunteers, under adult supervision.
REGISTER
LECTURE
Georgia's Heroes of the Revolutionary War
September 18, 2026 | 6:30pm
Join us as Neely Young, author and former Editor-in-Chief of Georgia Trend Magazine, discusses his new book, In Their Footsteps: Georgia's Heroes of the Revolutionary War. From the modest and obscure to the famous and flamboyant, Neely will share about the figures who shaped Georgia’s role in the American Revolution. Books will be available for purchase and signing. Space is limited. Tickets are $10 and must be purchased online in advance.
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Root House Harvest Dinner
September 19, 2026 | 6:00pm-8:30pm
Join us for a special evening of rustic elegance at the historic William Root House. Start your night with private after-hours access to the museum, followed by an intimate, candlelit dinner on the grounds of the antebellum home. Guests will enjoy a multi-course meal featuring chef-inspired dishes prepared by our friends at 1885 Grill. While iced tea and water will be served, guests are welcome to bring their own beverages to enjoy. Space is limited. Reservations are required. Menu: Sweet Potato Tartlets; Arugula Salad; Grilled Chicken Breast with Pumpkin Romesco and Roasted Root Vegetables and Broccoli Rabe; Maple Praline Bread Pudding.
4-Person Table... $360
2-Peron Table.... $180 (SOLD OUT)
MAKE A RESERVATION
LECTURE
Gendering Secession
September 26, 2026 | 6:30pm
Join us as author and historian Dr. Melissa DeVelvis discusses her groundbreaking book, Gendering Secession, which pulls back the curtain on the lives and politics of elite southern women during the months leading up to the American Civil War. Far from passive bystanders, these women were astute political observers who filtered their ideas through socially acceptable avenues - using religious metaphors, historical comparisons, and popular literature to process the nation's fracture and share deep-seated anxieties their male counterparts could not - or would not - express. Space is limited. Tickets are $15 and must be purchased online in advance.
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LECTURE
Murder & Mayhem in Marietta
October 1, 2026 | 6:30pm
The Third Door
In 19th-century America, death was not merely a private tragedy, and at the center of this social drama stood the county coroner. As an elected official, the coroner was responsible for convening a jury to examine the corpse and determine a cause of death—be it natural or nefarious. Over the course of the century, Cobb County voters elected twenty-one individuals to step into this role—acting in the evocative words of Stephen Berry as the “director of a macabre community theater.” Drawing upon research within the Marietta Journal, this lecture will uncover some of the suspicious deaths, tragic accidents, and murders investigated by the Cobb County coroner. This lecture is restricted to guests 21+. By purchasing a ticket, you acknowledge that you understand this program will include adult themes. Tickets for this program are $30 per person and must be purchased in advance. Each lecture ticket includes one signature drink ticket (valued at $10).
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VIP EXPERIENCE
Midnight Wake
October 9, 2026 | 11:00pm-Midnight
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.
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Holiday Orb Workshop
October 10, 2026 | Classes at 9:00am, 11:00am, and 1:00pm
Join us for some festive fun as we create beautiful orb light decorations. Learn how to assemble these enchanting orbs using chicken wire, lights, and decorative elements. 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). Space is limited. Tickets are $25 per person and must be purchased online in advance.
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LECTURE
Mother of a Monster: Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein
October 15, 2026 | 6:30pm
Join us for a captivating look at the life of Mary Shelley, and the creation of one of the 19th century's most revolutionary novels - Frankenstein. Drawing from her popular Kennesaw State University course, "British Literature and the Gothic," Dr. Molly Livingston will delve into the real-life experiences that inspired Shelley’s masterpiece. Learn how personal tragedy, the scientific revolution, and romantic idealism shaped a monster myth that defines horror and science fiction still today. Space is limited. Tickets are $15 and must be purchased online in advance.
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Victorian Funeral Flashlight Tours
October 23 and 24, 2026 | 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, a death mask, and other curious artifacts related to death and mourning in the Victorian era. Tours are self-guided. It is recommended you arrive no later than 8:30pm. Flashlight tours are $10 per person in advance and $15 per person at the door. No coupons or discounts may be applied. Space is limited.
GET TICKETS FOR OCT. 23
GET TICKETS FOR OCT. 24
Victorian Christmas Candlelight Night
December 11, 2026 | 4:00pm-8:00pm
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
