48th Annual Southeastern Civil War and Antique Gun Show

By James Hammonds · Originally published November-December 2026 · pp. 44–49

The North Georgia Relic Hunters Association held its 48th Annual Southeastern Civil War and Antique Gun Show on August 8–9, 2026, at the Cobb County Civic Center in Marietta, Georgia, just south of the historic town square. After weeks of summer heat and frequent rain, the weather cleared for a nearly ideal show weekend, with moderate temperatures and no rain to discourage visitors. A line had formed by the time the doors opened at 9 a.m. Saturday. Buying and selling began immediately, but the show was never simply a marketplace. It was also a reunion. Collectors greeted dealers they knew from earlier shows, relic hunters compared discoveries, and visitors moved from table to table examining artifacts that carried the physical evidence of military service and civilian life.

More Than Half a Century of Preservation The show’s long run reflects an organization with deep roots in the North Georgia collecting community. Ray Ruggles and Bill Evans founded the North Georgia Relic Hunters Association in 1972, with sponsorship and support from the City of Marietta Department of Parks and Recreation. From the beginning, the association brought together people interested in Civil War relics, old bottles, coins, metal detecting, and the responsible recovery and preservation of historic material. The earliest association show appears to have been held in Marietta in 1972 or 1973. Over the decades, that modest gathering grew into the Southeastern Civil War and Antique Gun Show, one of the region’s enduring collector events. The 48th annual show continued that tradition by joining experienced dealers and advanced collectors with families, beginning hobbyists, local historical groups, and visitors who simply wanted to see authentic objects up close. The location is particularly appropriate. Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park, only a short drive from the civic center, preserves 2,965 acres associated with the Atlanta Campaign. Union and Confederate forces maneuvered and fought around Kennesaw Mountain from June 19 through July 2, 1864. Marietta’s Confederate Cemetery, established in 1863, contains the graves of more than 3,000 Confederate soldiers, many of whom died in local hospitals or during the fighting around Marietta.

A Show Grounded in Local History Several speakers presented programs during show hours on Civil War subjects connected with local history. One topic was the Great Locomotive Chase. On April 12, 1862, civilian scout James J. Andrews and 19 Union soldiers seized the locomotive General and three boxcars at Big Shanty, now Kennesaw. Their mission was to damage the Western & Atlantic Railroad and disrupt Confederate communications between Atlanta and Chattanooga. The raiders were pursued northward and ultimately captured; 19 of the soldiers involved later received the Medal of Honor.4 Representatives of the Cobb County Civil War Round Table, the Sons of Confederate Veterans’ Camp Hardy, and the Marietta Confederate Cemetery also attended and provided information about their organizations. Their presence reinforced an important point: collecting is most valuable when the object remains connected to the person, unit, battlefield, workshop, or community that produced and used it.

Artifacts Across the Tables Dealers from around the country offered a broad range of material. Tables held excavated relics, muskets, rifles, pistols, swords, artillery projectiles, military accoutrements, period currency, documents, books, prints, uniforms, insignia, and metal-detecting equipment. Although the show’s principal emphasis remained the American Civil War, material extended through World War II. Antique firearms included long arms through the World War II era and handguns manufactured through 1898. Objects recovered from sites across the country appeared alongside artifacts found in Georgia. For many visitors, the appeal was not merely ownership. A well-identified button, projectile, plate, or firearm can open a discussion about manufacture, issue, use, loss, recovery, and conservation.

The show gave visitors a rare opportunity to compare many examples in one place and to learn directly from specialists who have handled similar material for decades.

Service, Charity, and the Next Generation As a tribute to those who served the country and the community, military personnel, veterans, law-enforcement officers, and first responders received free admission. Proceeds help support the association’s operations and charitable giving. Organizations aided in past years have included the Marietta Confederate Cemetery, Marietta Parks and Recreation, Calvary Children’s Home, and Wreaths Across America. The association also made a deliberate effort to welcome younger visitors. Children younger than 12 could choose a free item from a treasure box containing shark teeth, arrowheads, bullets, shell fragments, books, and similar objects. The gesture was simple, but it served a serious purpose: a child who leaves with a tangible piece of the past may return with questions, begin reading, and eventually become a careful collector or historian. Hourly door prizes included Civil War books and relics recovered near Kennesaw Mountain on private property with the landowner’s permission. The distinction matters. Responsible collecting requires permission, respect for protected land, careful documentation of find locations, and adherence to all applicable laws. Historical context can be lost permanently when an object is removed without a record of where and how it was found.

Award-Winning Displays Competitive displays highlighted the research and care that serious collectors bring to military material culture. The following awards were presented during the show:

Most Educational Award went to David Goff for his display of “US Handguns 1861–1865.” Best of Show Award went to Scott Riddle for his outstanding display of Confederate buckles and buttons. Many of the displayed items were related to the Georgia Military Academy (GMI), which was located in Marietta less than one mile from the show location. Judges Award – Best Dealer Display went to Tim Prince for his outstanding display of Civil War Weapons. Bobby Westbrook Award went to Roy Baker and Stan Wills for their extensive display of Civil War artifacts (including Union and Confederate Buckles, Buttons, and Artillery Shells) that they have metal detected—mainly in Georgia. Single Non-Dug Award went to Jon Patterson for his letter written by General U.S. Grant to General Polk. Single Dug Relic Award went to Bill Lee for his carved bullet with a company name inscribed on the bullet. A Successful 48th Year Dealers reported strong sales and equally important buying opportunities. Organizers also reported a record attendance and an increase over the previous year. By the end of the weekend, the show had again demonstrated why long-running collector events matter. They bring artifacts out for examination, encourage the exchange of reliable information, connect beginning collectors with experienced specialists, and sustain organizations devoted to preserving local and military history. For information about the North Georgia Relic Hunters Association and its annual show, visit www.ngrha.com or the public Facebook group, “North Georgia Relic Hunters Association.”

49th Annual Show The North Georgia Relic Hunters Association presents the 49th Annual Southeastern Civil War and Antique Firearms Show and Sale at the Cobb County Civic Center, 548 South Marietta Parkway SE, Marietta, Georgia 30060. Saturday, August 14, through Sunday, August 15, 2027.