Cobb landmarks Announces 2026 Preservation Award recipients

On May 14th Cobb Landmarks members gathered at the William Root House in downtown Marietta to recognize the outstanding businesses, organizations, and individuals working to protect local history. Held in partnership with the Marietta Historic Preservation Commission, the reception served as an opportunity to celebrate and acknowledge the visionaries, historians, and advocates keeping Cobb County’s stories alive. The event is held each May during National Historic Preservation Month. ​

Matilda’s Garden 
Jonquil Garden Club & Friends of the Concord Covered Bridge District
Matilda's Garden is a memorial garden located at the Silver Comet Trail entrance on Concord Road. It is dedicated to Matilda Ruff and the enslaved people whose labor and lives shaped the Concord Bridge area. Featuring a "Bench by the Road" from the Toni Morrison Society, the garden provides a space for visitors to pause and remember. Cobb Landmarks applauds the Jonquil Garden Club and Friends of the Concord Covered Bridge District for bringing this powerful project to life.
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Nellie Mae Rowe Park
Vinings Village Homeowners Association 
The Nellie Mae Rowe Park in Vinings, located at 2857 Paces Ferry Road near the Hotel Indigo, is a 1,600-square-foot pocket park and outdoor exhibit opened in November 2025. It honors the life of the renowned Black folk artist, featuring interpretive panels, a custom sculpture bench, and a crushed stone pathway at the site of her former "Playhouse.” The project was conceived and developed by Vinings Village Homeowners Association, in collaboration with Cobb Landmarks and Kennesaw State University. Cobb Landmarks is happy to recognize the Vinings Village Homeowners Association for their efforts to honor Nellie Mae Rowe’s legacy.
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Marietta History Center 
For the past 30 years, the Marietta History Center has been dedicated to sharing the unique history of Marietta and Cobb County. Acting as a steward of local history, the museum covers a wide range of topics, including Native American history, the Civil War, the industrial impact of Bell Aircraft/Lockheed Martin, and daily life in the 1950s. Cobb Landmarks is proud to honor the staff and volunteers whose tireless stewardship ensures that these vital stories and artifacts are preserved for generations rather than lost to time.
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Kinley Buford
Volunteer of the Year
Kinley has been a volunteer in the Junior Historian program at Cobb Landmarks since 2022. She has contributed more than 150 service hours, consistently surpassing many of our adult volunteers in annual hours served. In addition to her regular volunteer activities, she took the initiative to develop a summer camp at the Root House for elementary-aged children called Mary Hannah’s Finishing School, which she will help facilitate this July.
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Strand Theatre 
The Strand has recently completed extensive exterior preservation work, including restoration work on the historic marquee, full marble façade tuckpointing, terrace railing restoration, second-floor window repairs and sealing, and repairs to exterior walls and masonry. Cobb Landmarks commends The Strand for their efforts to ensure this historic landmark continues serving the community for generations to come.