Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park, west of Marietta, Georgia, was the site of two major battles of the War Between the States (Civil War). Skirmishes were fought in the area from mid-June until July 2, 1864. On June 22, 1864 Major General Joseph Hooker's XX Corps and elements of Major General John Schofield's Army of the Ohio battled Hood's Corps (Lt. General John Bell Hood) around a farmhouse owned by Peter Valentine Kolb (Battle of Kolb's Farm).

Five days later William T. Sherman ordered a broad frontal assault against the entrenched Confederate position on Kennesaw Mountain. The assault would concentrate in two areas, near Pigeon Hill and further south at what today is known as Cheatham Hill. These battles, known as the Battle of Kennesaw Mountain was the worst defeat of the Union Army during the Atlanta Campaign.

Visiting Kennesaw Mountain battlefield

Obviously, if you are travelling and come to Kennesaw Mountain, you are probably there because of the Civil War battles that were fought along the 8-mile length of the park. For our suggested tour of the park, please see Kennesaw Mountain Civil War Battle tour.

Kennesaw Mountain is truly a hiker's dream. The 8-mile long park has, essentially, two trails that run the distance of the park with connecting trails between the two trunk trails.

Location: West of Marietta, Georgia
Directions: To Visitors Center: Take I-75 to exit 267a (US 41/Marietta, GA). Take the Canton Rd. Connector south to Church St. Extension (go past U. S. 41/Cobb Pkwy.) and turn right. Travel .6 miles and at the light turn left onto Old Highway 41. At the next light (1.1 miles) turn left. Make an immediate left into the Visitor Center parking lot.

To Cheatham Hill:From Marietta Square take Whitlock Ave. west. Watch for sign for turn to Cheatham Hill just past a cemetery. Turn left and continue to the end of the road.
To Kolb's Farm:
Additional information:

Date added: January 14, 2004
Last update: August 3, 2005