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Booth Western Art Museum
Category: Arts & Entertainment Museums Museums [Edit]
501 Museum DrCartersville, GA 30120
(770) 387-1300
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
9 reviews for Booth Western Art Museum
9 reviews in English
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Review from Steve B.
Atlanta, GA
4/21/2012
The Booth Western Art Museum is, in my humble opinion, a First Class Museum with an excellent and large section of works from numerous artist in the Western Art genre.
Frankly, I didn't know I loved "western art" so much but, with the well constructed exhibits the Booth Museum provides, you can immerse yourself in this genre all day long. So many of the works are exquisite examples of our American story; created by some of the most well known artist in America.
One section you really should see is the Presidential Gallery. Handwritten letters by the presidents; other articles of interest too - it was extremely interesting to me to read, see and take in the, sometimes personal, world of each and every president of the US.
The Booth Museum is located in Cartersville, GA - about 45+ minutes NW of Atlanta and, throughout the year, has special events and programs. Best to check their website for details.
My friend and I visited on a Saturday early afternoon. The Museum is situated on a less traveled street and the parking lot we used was right across the street from the main entrance. No lines, no wait; we walked right in and paid a small fee and enjoyed ourselves.
I HIGHLY recommend a visit. -
Review from William K.
Roswell, GA
3/4/2012 1 Check-in Here
Cartersville, GA. I WILL BE BACK.
I miss Santa Fe and Taos very much. I am a huge fan of The West. The vast open spaces and huge vistas. The contrast of muted earth ones set against an intense blue sky. I miss Canyon Road. I miss Maria's Restaurant. I miss Geronimo, Ten Thousand Waves, Taos Ski Valley, and all the places I love.
Being here for a couple hours reminded just how much. While not a fan of cowboy art or Indian paintings, the landscapes just slay me. It was like being back in the places I love most.
I liked the big spacious rooms, the modern facility, the well lit paintings... It is a good museum and a great experience. If you're a fan of The West, this is a really unique and very unexpected cultural experience. -
Review from David J.
Atlanta, GA
12/5/2011
I have to agree with others that the museum building looked brand new and the western art collection was immense and amazing. This art museum is something that you would expect to find in Atlanta, not Cartersville. This is a perfect place to tour on a weekend, and they have ample free parking space. The basement also has a lot of exhibits geared towards children. For those traveling on 75, this museum is worth the detour.
After touring the museum, you can walk the main square and get a bite to eat. -
Review from Gretchen O.
Atlanta, GA
1/14/2011 1 photo
Wow! This facility was above and beyond my wildest expectations. Located outside of Atlanta and being a Western Art Museum, I was expecting something smaller and more rustic. Not the case, this museum is large, modern and first class.
Came here specifically for the visiting Ansel Adams exhibit, which consisted of 130 items, including a replica of his dark room. Very cool. I always appreciated his work, but never considered that it was just not his eye that made these photos. I learned that he actually manipulated the photo process to showcase different aspects of the photo. My favorite on exhibit was Moonrise, Hernandez, New Mexico. Not sure what it was about the photo, but it really caught my attention.
I was kind of disappointed that his Oak Tree (ice encased oak tree) was not part of the exhibit. I had that print back in the early 90's and really enjoyed it.
Another interesting thing or at least I found it interesting that there were not any photos of his wife. Several of the bio's make mention of her, yet no pics. I guess I thought it was interesting considering there were photos of her father and then the fact that there were several of Ansel Adam's good friend, Georgia O'Keeffe. Mmmm, hmmm....
Anyway, enough about the temporary exhibit and back to the Western Art part of Booth. I will just cut to the chase, I am not a fan of Western Art. I just do not appreciate it, never have. I did see a lot of things that I thought were beautiful, though. The bronze sculpture collection at this museum was amazing. My favorite was a life size sculpture of a Native American attempting to catch an eagle. Oh and in the "War is Hell" gallery there was a painting of two Native Americans gambling for some clothing, weapons, and belongings of the white man that they had staked, spread eagle to the ground. My mother was always big on the history and art of Native Americans and I remember her telling me different methods of torture that were part of the war between the Native American and the white man. Demented, I know.
In addition to the Western Art, another permanent exhibit called the Presidential Gallery. I really enjoyed this collection, which was primarily a photo of each president, a list of firsts for a president and included a personally penned letter from the president with a story about the letter that was displayed.
Outside the Presidential Gallery there is a life size painting of the 18 presidents of the 20th century. The painting is by the portrait artist Rossin, who resides in Atlanta. Anyway, not sure if it is a permanent fixture at the museum, but it really is interesting to see the artists portrayal of each president.
The Presidential Gallery was my favorite of the permanent exhibits at Booth and I really enjoyed the presentation of Ansel Adams, as well. If it had not been for my friends desire to see the Ansel Adams exhibit, I might never have known such a fine museum existed in Cartersville. -
Review from Alayne H.
1/9/2011 4 photos
Fellow Yelper Beth E. organized a field trip to the Booth Museum to see the Ansel Adams exhibit. My expectations were exceeded upon entering the Museum. It is much larger than I envisioned.
The Ansel Adams exhibit was fantastic. Over 130 photographs were on display. I also spent time in the Presidential Gallery which was tastefully done and interesting.
I hope to go back and spend time viewing the Civil War art and Western art.
It was definitely worth the drive and is a good day trip with boutiques and restaurants to visit after being cultured. -
Review from Will T.
2/16/2011
I saw a poster at the Ansley Mall Starbucks promoting an Ansel Adams exhibit at a museum I'd never heard of. After scouring the internet I discovered the Booth Western Art Museum in Cartersville, GA. Museum? Cartersville? Not exactly words I link together, but being a photography buff I went to check it out.
First of all, the exhibit was awesome! The 130 Ansel Adams photographs included many iconic images, including famous pictures of Yosemite and Half Dome. The exhibit did a great job of including all aspects and themes of his amazing career, though. I fell in love with Ansel Adams' work all over again.
I was astonished to find a facility like this in a town as small as Cartersville. I guess I've become a big city snob because I was expecting some rustic building hammered together by a local yokel. Boy was I wrong! This is a modern spacious museum themed around Western Art. And boy, do they beat that theme to death. I mean, how many paintings of a buckin' bronco do you need? This is a little less fine are and more of what I'd call cowboy art. You won't find anything by the likes of George Catlin, Georgia O'Keefe or Albert Bierstadt. But chances are you'll find something to enjoy. My favorites included the nice selection of sculpture and the cowboy movie memorabilia.
This exhibit definitely put the Booth on my radar and I'll be looking for reasons to visit again.
P.S. The exhibit was originally scheduled to end Feb. 20, but has been extended until March 13, sans about 40 photos in a temporary gallery space that have to be pulled to make room for a new exhibit getting hung. -
Review from Rachel C.
1/6/2008
"Explore the West without Leaving the South."
When a friend first suggested a trip to the Booth Western Art Museum in Cartersville, Georgia, I scoffed.
SURELY YOU JEST?
I am from the REAL AMERICAN SOUTHWEST - cowboys & Indians, cactus & diamondbacks, mesas & O'Keeffe, mountains & green chile . . . . what in heavens name would make you think I would enjoy a visit to a two-bit-beside-the-road-tin-horn-pretend western museum?
But, she insisted. Even plied me with a promise to visit a Mound Site. So, reluctantly, very reluctantly, I agreed.
But, in the back of my mind all I could think of is that NW Georgia is nowhere near anything remotely western.
But, it was a Saturday and I love to do weekend trips and explore the areas close to where I live. (Most people don't do that you realize? They live all their lives in one place and don't even know what is just next door.)
Well, anyway, I was plied with an archeological promise and a promise of an outstanding lunch and a Saturday adventure. So off we headed. The morning was spent climbing the Mound, listening to the ancient drums & almost catching a glimpse of ghosts of young early Americans pulling fish from the fishtraps.
After lunch we headed for the museum. I was hoping that I could at least be polite and not show my disappointment when I saw local "wannabe" western artists work.
Well . . . . DID I HAVE TO EAT BOTH MY THOUGHTS AND WORDS!!!!!!
Booth Western Art Museum is in Association with the Smithsonian Institution. Not a fly-by-night partner to have. They have some of the most outstanding contemporary western art in the country; plus, exhibit halls that include western movie posters, western illustration, Presidential Portraits & letters, Civil War art & special exhibits. There is an interactive exhibit space for children. All in all there is over 80,000 square feet of outstanding exhibits. The building itself is worth a visit. They have lectures, tours, activities, gatherings. A calendar of all upcoming events is available online.
YEP! EAT MY WORDS!!!!
I was totally blown away by the quality, quantity and western beauty of this place. In Cartersville, Georgia of all places. You could plop this place down in Santa Fe or Albuquerque or Phoenix and you would be none the wiser . . . . until you stepped out the door into the muggy heat.
Oh, the only thing I would say is don't expect to stop in a local restaurant and get a green chile cheeseburger for lunch.You will be disappointed if you do. You're much more likely to be served fried chicken, okra & hushpuppies, with sweet tea to drink.
RECOMMENDATION: Never, ever, go to Atlanta, or anywhere in Georgia, without planning a visit to this fantastic museum. A true hidden gem. -
Review from James K.
Douglasville, GA
8/17/2010
Neat!
lol, too short and simple? I'll elaborate then.
some friends were visiting and they wanted things to do.. so a quick google search of west ATL turned up this gem of a place.
I'd never been to Cartersville, so after talking it over my friends and I took the short trip up there down the part of cobb pkwy that's actually quite scenic, into downtown Cartersville.
The ride getting there was refreshing, a stark contrast from the rather run down parts of cobb pkwy near Marietta, and the upscale areas in Acworth, this was natural and filled with mountainous views... the ride alone made it worth the trip.
When we arrived were were surprised by a few things.. Cartersville is a quaint little town, it's clean and doesn't appear run down at all compared to oh say Douglasville or Villa Rica that look like a junkyard for old buildings..
We were also surprised by what appeared to be a massive overpass not even 2 feet from the front of some businesses as we approached the museum. How odd that is!
Finally, we were surprise to find a western art museum with such modern architecture! The building is stone white and rigid and entirely modern. Inside you are met with marble and chrome with glass railings and elevators.. it's very clean and artistic, but seemed a bit out of place for a western art museum?
A few tickets and we were on our way. I was impressed with all of the works here, from the paper sculpture to the bronze and stone, down to the oil based paintings.
I spent a good bit of time in the war is hell exhibit, being a bit of a history nerd, this was the place for me. Some wonderful works in here that really show what it must have been like for these young men to trapse across the eastern side of our country, their boots filled with holes and their pants torn, patched the pieces of cloth seeming to come from the trousers of their opponents.
The number of characters alone in a painting is a daunting task for someone who has only recently taken up art like myself, so it was truly an honor to stand among the works that not only captured 30+ individuals, but did so without replicating a single person's face or facial expression.. and doing it in oil paints no less on canvas.. why.. I can barely take a pencil and a sticky note and produce a recognizable human face..
We continued on, finally ending our tour at the presidential area where original letters (and their interpretations thank you!!) lay along with pictures and fun facts about each president. It was truly amazing to see George Washington's hand writing on a piece of paper here.
The grounds were beautiful and all in all, this was a wonderful sunday afternoon for us. I recommend you go! -
Review from Michelle A.
Atlanta, GA
12/4/2009 4 photos
Like the other reviews, I thought my grandparents were bonkers asking me to go to this museum with them. Westerns? Me? All I know about Clint Eastwood is what I learned from watching the Bird Cage, and trust me, that ain't much.
I piled in the car anyway and what a shocker; the museum is fabulous! Lots of art which is, obviously, western themed but it's very well done. Artists from long ago to modern day hang on the walls, and there's a fun kiddie exhibit that I let my inner child explore as well. I had such a great time here looking at all the art, playing around, and exploring the gift shop that I never realized hours had gone by.
The building and grounds are also great, with gorgeous bronze statues dotting the walkways with scattered benches to sit and enjoy a sunny day on. What a great place, and well worth a trip to the boonies of Cartersville for!
