Marietta Trolley Company rolls through history
Published: Jun 9, 2009
The familiar "clang clang" of a trolley bell signals only one thing for folks in Marietta: fun with an historic twist! Explore the city's rich history and learn how it shaped the present with the Marietta Trolley Company.
In 1905, Marietta residents clamored for the first look at an electric rail streetcar that would take them all the way to Atlanta at what was then “incredible speed”. Passengers were picked up throughout Marietta and dropped off on Forsyth Street in Atlanta on what was considered to be a state-of-the-art vehicle called "Uncle Ruban".
Today, Uncle Ruban is back – well, kind of. The Historic Marietta Trolley Company reincarnated the streetcar’s name for their new 30-passenger commuter streetcar that takes guests on a leisurely ride throughout the city.Painted in traditional red, green and gold, the trolley is outfitted with stylish park bench seating to evoke that a nostalgic feeling that is unparalleled by anything except the original.
The company currently offers a variety of seasonal tours to the public:
The Historic Marietta Tour departs several times each week and takes passengers to the National and Confederate Cemeteries, past historic homes on Church and Cherokee streets, as well as Kennesaw Avenue and to Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park.
Four times per year, the Civil War tour offers a captivating glimpse into the horrors and triumphs of a battle that happened right here in Marietta.
The “Scary-etta” ghost trolley tour is a 90-minute program of scary stories and "haunted-house" walk-throughs. You’re sure to get goosebumps! Be sure to take this tour for Halloween.
The trolley also takes baseball fans from Marietta Square to Turner Field on select gameday Fridays during baseball season.
The trolley may be chartered throughout the year for weddings, birthdays, pub crawls or any occasion. For more information or a list of tour times, call (770) 425-1006.
- by Christine Foster, Atlanta Reporter for HelloMetro
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