On the corner of Atlanta and Anderson Streets in downtown Marietta, Georgia, The Marietta/Cobb Museum of Art is housed in the vintage 1909 post office building. The museum features its own collection of 19^th and 20^th century artists as well as traveling shows sponsored by many of the famous art museum throughout America. Some of these shows have been incredibly popular, and the museum is gaining a reputation in north Georgia for these exhibitions.

History of the Museum

The building has been home to both the Marietta Post Office and the city library over the last 90 years. Completed in 1909 under the direction of then postmaster DeWitt Cole, the building would be the center of life in the (then) small north Georgia town at the southern end of the Appalachian Mountains. The building was considered "state-of-the-art" because it had steam heat, electric lights and running water. By 1963 the post office had outgrown its environs and moved to a new building. The Clarke Library occupied to the building after an extensive remodeling.

Over the next 26 years the library grew in its new home. During its stay the library grows to more than 33,000 books and in 1989 the decision was made to move. Visionary Marietta residents saved the building from destruction, funding a renovation and creating north Georgia's finest art museum.

About the Exhibitions

Over the last three years Roadside Georgia editors have attended a number of the exhibitions of the Marietta/Cobb Museum of Art. Among our favorites (if we HAVE to choose) were the Wythe family exhibition and the Wood and Fiber show. One unexpected delight was the Paul Jones show. Mr. Jones is a collector of African and African-American art, some of which was truly astounding.

The museum runs approximately four exhibitions a year, and during the times when there is no exhibition the museum is filled with its own superb collection, which is well worth a visit.

For exhibition schedules, hours and directions, please see the official Marietta/Cobb Museum of Art homepage

Location: Downtown Marietta, south of Marietta Square
Directions: Take I-75 to exit 263 (S. Marietta Pkwy/ GA 120) and travel west to Atlanta St. (just before the railroad underpass). Turn right and the museum is on the left. Additional parking is available across the street from the facility
Additional information:

Date added: November 16, 2003
Last update: December 5, 2003