National Medal for Museum and Library Service Recognizes Kennesaw Georgia Museum’s Community Contributions

Kennesaw, GA (March 24, 2026)—The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) announced the Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History of Kennesaw Georgia as one of 10 recipients of the 2025 National Medal for Museum and Library Service, the nation’s highest honor given to museums and libraries that make significant and exceptional contributions to their communities. Over the past 30 years, the award has celebrated institutions that are making a difference for individuals, families, and communities.

The Southern Museum opened in 1972 in Kennesaw, Georgia, as the Big Shanty Museum. It showcased the famous General locomotive and was dedicated to telling the story of the Great Locomotive Chase. The event, which took place on April 12, 1862, elevated the engine and Big Shanty (today the City of Kennesaw) to prominence during the Civil War.

While the General remained the main attraction, the Museum began to collect and interpret other artifacts from the Civil War period. The name was changed to the Kennesaw Civil War Museum as the scope of the Museum and the collection grew. In the mid-1990s, the Museum acquired and curated an impressive locomotive-building collection from the Glover Machine Works of Marietta, Georgia.

Beginning in 2001, a two-year renovation expanded the Museum into a nearly 50,000-square-foot facility featuring three permanent exhibits: Railroads: Lifelines of the Civil War, Glover Machine Works: Casting a New South, and The Great Locomotive Chase, home to the General locomotive.

The Museum continued to grow with the 2007 opening of the 8,000-square-foot Jolley Education Center, which provides classroom space, a dedicated children’s area, and houses Georgia’s Merci Boxcar—a gift from France following World War II.

In 2016, the Railroad Education Center Library & Archives was added, offering 8,200 square feet of space for the Museum’s expanding archival collection, documenting the history and development of Southern railroads.

The 10 recipients of the 2025 National Medal for Museum and Library Service represent institutions that provide dynamic programming and services that exceed expected levels of service. Through their community outreach, these institutions bring about change that touches the lives of individuals and helps communities thrive.

“Receiving the National Medal for Museum and Library Service is a tremendous honor for the Southern Museum and the City of Kennesaw. This recognition affirms our commitment to preserving and interpreting the vital role railroads played in shaping the Civil War and the American South, and inspires us to continue fostering education and open dialogue for visitors of all ages and backgrounds.” said Dr. Richard Banz, Executive Director of the Southern Museum.

The award will be presented at a ceremony later this summer. For a complete list of 2025 recipients and to learn more about the National Medal awardees, visit the IMLS website.

About the Institute of Museum and Library Services

The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of federal support for the nation’s libraries and museums. We advance, support, and empower America’s museums, libraries, and related organizations through grantmaking, research, and policy development. IMLS envisions a nation where individuals and communities have access to museums and libraries to learn from and be inspired by the trusted information, ideas, and stories they contain about our natural and cultural heritage. To learn more, visit www.imls.gov and follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn.

About The Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History

As a prestigious Smithsonian Affiliations member, the Southern Museum is an inclusive institution devoted to history and education. Home of the General locomotive made famous during the Great Locomotive Chase of 1862, the Museum provides a quality experience that fosters conversation about the strategic and economic use of railroads during and after the Civil War. The Southern Museum’s educational programs reinforce classroom learning by connecting historical information with actual artifacts, while the Jolley Education Center offers numerous hands-on and interactive exhibits for children of all ages.