HOURS
The Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Visitor Center is open from 9 AM to 5 PM daily except for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day. Times can always change, so before making travel plans be sure to visit park’s Operating Hours and Seasons web page for the latest schedule.
AMENITIES
- Ranger-staffed information desk where you can pick up a free park brochure and other information.
- Shuttle to the top of Kennesaw Mountain
- Store that sells various Civil War related books and park souvenirs
- Exhibit area
- Battle of Kennesaw Mountain documentary, One Last Mountain
- Puppet stage and puppets for kids to play with
- Large field where weapons demonstrations and other outdoor events are held
- Restrooms
PARK FILM
A 38-minute documentary on the Battle of Kennesaw Mountain entitled One Last Mountain shows every hour in the Visitor Center’s auditorium. A schedule is posted by the information desk, and the Ranger on duty makes an announcement before the film starts. This is a live action documentary complete with “Hollywood” battle scenes about the fighting leading up to and at Kennesaw Mountain. The film gives an excellent account of the battle with animated graphics and realistic battle scenes. It is not for young children, and a message on the auditorium door states so. The film depicts a lot of dead soldiers with blood and gore on their faces, and one guy even takes a bullet to the head. My 9-year old daughter watched it and didn’t mind the fighting, but said that she was “freaked out by the dead guys starring at the camera with glazed eyes.” I’d rate is PG. If your kids have seen war films and are familiar with death, they probably won’t have a problem with it.
EXHIBITS
The Visitor Center also houses a museum comprised of both information panels and Civil War artifacts, including weapons and uniforms. This is not an all-encompassing Civil War museum, but one that focuses on the early days of 1864 and the actual Battle of Kennesaw Mountain. The first section of the museum sets the stage for the battle to come—info on the generals and commanding officers at the time, the mental, physical, and financial state of both the North and the South, and weapons and technology in use at the time.
The second half of the museum focuses on the actual battle and the eventual fall of Atlanta.
SCHEDULING YOUR TIME
Depending on your level of interest, plan to spend up to two hours at the museum. Most people are in and out in 15 minutes or less, as they quickly walk through, checking out an artifact here and there that catches their interest. However, if you don’t want to miss any of the information, you should be able to read most everything in two hours.
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Last updated on February 15, 2020