December 9, 2021
CONTACT: Trevor Beemon
Executive Director
tbeemon@cobblandmarks.com
678.594.4994
MARIETTA - For one night only, guests are invited to take a candlelit tour of the c. 1845 William Root House in downtown Marietta. The warm glow of candlelight will illuminate rooms decorated with live greens, fruit, and handmade decorations in the style of the 1860s. Scavenger hunts, crafts, and coloring activities will be available for children. The sound of live holiday music will fill the house with Christmas cheer. In the kitchen, visitors can meet with food historian Clarissa Clifton and enjoy a live cooking demonstration as she fires up the 1850s cast iron wood burning stove. This special holiday experience is perfect for the entire family!
The Root House Visitor Center & Gift Shop, located inside an 1830s log cabin, will come to life with festive music, refreshments, and a roaring fire in the stone fireplace. A unique variety of handcrafted gifts and mercantile goods will be available for purchase. Outside, the gardens will be illuminated with lighted garlands and wreaths generously provided by Lights Over Atlanta. Admission is $10 per person. Tickets may be purchased online in advance. Space is limited. Visit RootHouseMuseum.com/Candlelight to learn more.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION: Christmas was made a legal holiday in the state of Georgia in 1850. Evergreen branches found in nearby forests and gardens would have been used to decorate mantles, mirrors, doorways, and tables. Evergreens were thought to represent everlasting life. The Agricola Bakery, which opened on the Marietta Square in 1851, was known to have the first indoor Christmas tree in Marietta. During the 1850s, trees were secretly decorated behind closed doors. Decorations consisted of fruit, candles, and unwrapped toys. Christmas trees were revealed to children with an element of surprise as the gifts were typically placed on the tree and were not wrapped in paper.
WHAT: Christmas Candlelight Tour
WHEN: Saturday, December 11, 2021 4:00pm-7:00pm
CONTACT: 770-426-4982; roothousemuseum.com
ABOUT THE WILLIAM ROOT HOUSE: Owned and operated by Cobb Landmarks & Historical Society, the William Root House is one of the oldest homes in the Atlanta area. Museum guests learn about life for a middle class family living in antebellum Georgia. Home to the Root family from 1845 to 1886, the Root House is more typical of its time and place than the grand plantations and columned mansions popularized by Gone With the Wind. Meticulously restored to its c. 1860 appearance, the home and its gardens are awaiting your visit.