Civil War Friday

Geddy took off Friday so we could drive into the city to have my car serviced, and we decided to make a day of it by visiting Kennesaw Mountain and the Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History.

We worried over that trip like a dog with a bone, trying to squeeze the most out of our day. We considered and rejected many options: Zoo Atlanta, Oakhurst Cemetery, the MLK Center/Sweet Auburn Historic District, World of Coca-Cola, Underground Atlanta, the High Museum of Art, even Six Flags. We finally narrowed our choices down to The Wren's Nest, home of author Joel Chandler Harris, and the two places we eventually visited.

We made a great choice, fueled by a coupon that got all of us into the museum for $18 and the fact that the mountain is a national park and, therefore, free. (Sorry, but it really is a factor, folks!) Kennesaw Mountain was neat, but I have a difficult time picturing long-ago battles raging on a peaceful green mountaintop.

The museum was impressive. My favorite exhibit was one on slavery before, during and after the Civil War, especially the difficulties freed slaves faced. I also really enjoyed the movie about Andrews' Raiders, who stole a train called The General and were chased down by its engineer, who ran a train called The Texas backwards to catch them. Disney made a movie about it with Fess Parker in the 50s called The Great Locomotive Chase. The General is on display at the museum, and The Texas is on display at the Cyclorama.

We did the museum's scavenger hunt and in the process discovered a jacket worn by George Armstrong Custer on his wedding day and some items belonging to bumbling Confederate General John Bell Hood.

Lunch at Steak and Shake, a wooden cap gun, a white bonnet and a Confederate cap, gas and admission to the museum was all it took to make this one a memorable day, and now the children (and I!) have a much broader view of the Civil War and slavery, and what the railroad meant in both.