Museum Shows Visitors How Southerners Kept Their Cool

July 8, 2024

CONTACT: Trevor Beemon
Executive Director
678-594-4994
[email protected]

MARIETTA - The Root House was built circa 1845 for Hannah and William Root, early settlers of Marietta. William was one of Marietta's earliest merchants and its first druggist. Today the house offers an in-depth look at daily life for both the Root family and their enslaved house servants. Decorated with period furniture in the fashion of the 1860s, great effort has been made to bring only authentic furnishings into the house. Outside, visitors can view a recreated cookhouse and see a working 1850s cookstove. Interactive electronic touchscreens allow for a self-guided museum experience.
During the summer, visitors to the museum will get a chance to see the clever techniques southerners used to create light and cool homes in the days before air conditioning. Carpets are rolled up and replaced with bamboo mats to protect floors from dirt and dust. Fireplaces are sealed to keep out birds and unwanted pests. Dark upholstered furniture is adorned with crisp white slipcovers. These and many more tricks help create an airy space designed for summer comfort. "Dressed for Summer" is on display through September 28, 2024. The display is included in the cost of regular museum admission.

Go to WilliamRootHouse.com to plan your visit.

ABOUT THE WILLIAM ROOT HOUSE: The Root House Museum is the first house museum in the U.S. to offer a fully self-guided touchscreen tour. One of the oldest homes in the Atlanta area, the Root House is more typical of its time and place than the columned mansions popularized by Gone With the Wind. While the home and grounds have been meticulously restored to their 1860 appearance, interactive electronic displays have been added to tell the story of the Root family and their enslaved house servants. The William Root House Museum & Garden is owned and operated by Cobb Landmarks & Historical Society, Inc.