It's hard to believe it's been 175 years, but it has. Marietta - a.k.a. "The Gem City," a.k.a. "The Bomber City" - is celebrating its 175th birthday this year, culminating in a series of events this weekend.

Foremost was a sold-out, black-tie gala in Glover Park on Marietta Square that took place Friday evening. That party, this weekend and the anniversary also coincide with the 23rd annual Marietta Pilgrimage Christmas Home Tour, one of the foremost events of its kind in the Southeast.

"It's a perfect tie-in for the tour to connect with our 175th celebration - spotlighting the best of the past in Marietta as we prepare for the future," said Kathryn Mayfield, co-chair of the Marietta Pilgrimage Christmas Home Tour.

The theme of Friday's gala was "Living the Charmed Life in the Gem City for 175 Years." It featured a large heated tent, cocktail buffet, full bar, and big band music from Les Still and the Still Swinging Band. Meanwhile, opening night for "Cinderella" took place across North Park Square in the newly restored Strand Theatre. There were horse-drawn carriage rides around the square and candlelight tours of homes on the Pilgrimage.

Marietta boasts a much more varied history than most cities its size. We are rich in history pertaining to the Cherokee Indians who once lived here, to the momentous Civil War events that took place here ("The Great Locomotive Chase" and the Battle of Kennesaw Mountain), have a strong tie-in to World War II history via the old Bell Aircraft plant (now operated by Lockheed Martin) where B-29 Superfortress Bombers were assembled, and much other history as well. We've always been a railroad town, ever since we sprung up as the rails of the Western & Atlantic Railroad were first laid through Cobb in 1834. We're a community with strong associations to such figures as Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman, Gen. Lucius D. Clay, and former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich, to name just a few.

"I've always maintained that Marietta's very lucky among all the towns in metro Atlanta. It's got one of the strongest, if not the strongest, self identity," proclaimed Mayor Bill Dunaway this summer. Our identity comes from Marietta Square, our independent city school system, and our long political heritage of independence from Atlanta, he said.

Moreover, we've survived war and peace, boom and bust (a little too much of the latter at present), Sherman's visit, Reconstruction, the Great Depression and the rise and fall and rise again of downtown and the Square.

We have plenty to celebrate - and to look forward to.

So Happy Birthday, Marietta!