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Booth Western Art Museum
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2 reviews for Booth Western Art Museum
"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.
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Fabulous! I, too, wondered..."If this place is any good at all, then why in the world would it be found so far outside of Atlanta? And where is Cartersville anyway"? I was curious, but not curious enough...for a few years.
My son ended up living for 6 months in Gallup, & loving the four corners! He explored as much as time allowed...while living on the Navajo Reservation. We were fortunate enough to visit!
This brought about even more curiosity over this "western" museum...in GA?! Finally, I just decided to just go for it...check it out once, just to know. It's amazing! It deserves waaaay more visitors! And the borrowed exhibits have been just as great!
The museum is truly in the oddest location! I can not understand HOW Cartersville was chosen. And it's even tucked into Cartersville. But they now have a massive collection, & just this month, the museum has added a huge addition to allow the more frequent display of more of their collection.
I'll say that the previous reviewer just says it so much better, but consider this my plea to "just do it". I'm anxious to see the new wing!