Big Shanty

Cobb County · dedicated 1954 · At the intersection of Cherokee and Main Streets in Kennesaw.

In 1838-41, a construction camp of laborers grading & building the State R. R., was located at the spring approximately 250 yds. W. of here, where temporary structures (shanties) housed the workmen. Track level here was some 345 ft. above the level at Cartersville, 19 mi. N.; the grade was 18 ft. per mi. at time of construction. In railroad parlance, this was known as "the big grade to the shanties" -- later shortened to "big shanty grade" and finally to "Big Shanty", which was changed to Kennesaw in about 1870. In June 1864, Federal forces on the Kennesaw Mtn. front drew supplies at this point.

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David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries

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under a mile from where William Gabby lived in the 1760s

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This marker is part of the Georgia Historical Marker Program, administered by the Georgia Historical Society. Marker texts and locations come from the Society's own marker database.

More markers nearby

Site: Lacy Hotelunder 1 mi
The Andrews Raidunder 1 mi
Federal Occupation of Big Shantyunder 1 mi
Stewart's Corps at Big Shantyunder 1 mi

On the National Register nearby

Big Shanty Village Historic District140 ft
General, The270 ft

Places within about 300 feet of this marker that are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. A nearby listing is not always the marker's own subject.