What a jewel nestled in the small town of Cartersville, Georgia! I'm a fan of western art and was thrilled to visit a world class museum dedicated to the great art and artists of the American West. Our tour guide was very informative as she shared her knowledge of the collections on display. There is so much to see and absorb. Allow plenty of time to join the 60-90 minute afternoon tour and also go back on your own to see more than can be covered in a "short" 90 minutes.The museum building itself is a lovely architectural design. Definitely a "must visit" for anyone whose love of history includes stories and images of America's Western Heritage. read more

It had been over 4.5 years since we last visited the Booth Western Art Museum. It is a bit far for us to drive (on a regular basis) and there hadn't seemed to be much difference in the exhibits at that time versus our visit prior to that. We were staying overnight nearby so we opted to revisit on a weekend when our bank sponsors free admission. We parked in a large shared lot across the street that was about 90% full due to a local farmers' market. We arrived around 10:30 a.m. on a Saturday (they open at 10). My assumption was that we'd spent at most a couple of hours here. However, I was mistaken. My impression is that they have added / exchanged a significant percentage of the works on display over the last few years. There were definitely a lot of works I recalled seeing, but there were also many that were unfamiliar. All have associated plaques with notes (some about the context and some about the artists). I read many of these as I browsed. The artwork is probably 75% paintings and 25% sculptures (percentages vary based on the room / wing you are in). Over the 2 main floors, the galleries included: - a room showing examples of how works depicting the west evolved decade by decade for ~ 2 centuries. - rooms of general western works - themed rooms with subjects like 'cowboys' or 'native peoples' - a room devoted to new acquisitions - a separate 'gallery of the U.S. presidents' that is permanent - a room devoted to traveling exhibits - this one was an artist who painted western scenes (including national parks) with about 90% realism and 10% spiritual / fantasy elements. - a long hallway devoted to sculptures of a wide array of native tribes - a large gallery devoted to modern interpretations - including things like a Van Gogh inspired painting of a bull rider, some pop-art by Warhol, etc. - a room devoted mostly to military work - the burning of Atlanta, the battle of the Alamo, etc. We spent over 3.5 hours here and left mostly as we were getting tired. I think I covered most of the museum, but there were parts near the end where I spent less time. The museum also had a temporary photo exhibit in the basement area, as well as a cafe and gift shop. There grounds feature an array of larger sculptures, but it was in the upper 90s that day so we didn't linger outside. I recall liking this museum when I came here previously, but I enjoyed it even more on this most recent visit. I'll definitely try to return again. read more

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Expansive art collection for such a small town, very clean interior & facilities, air conditioning works very well, and the staff are exceptionally friendly. There are lots of benches to sit on if you want to examine a particular exhibit for an extended period. The displays feature a wide variety of media, from bronze & paper sculptures, to oil and digital paintings, photographs, historical artifacts, etc. Very mentally stimulating, no matter what your interests are. Oh, and on the first full weekend of each month, the museum has free entry for Bank of America customers (Museums on Us Program), admit one per card holder. read more

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There is a very good reason you see five stars throughout the review section for the Booth. One thing for sure. You will likely be overwhelmed by the beauty and scope of this museum. The WEST comes alive here in a way you've never experienced. You'll want to come back again and again! read more

Booth Western Art Museum - Art Museums Near Me - Cartersville, Georgia

Prioritize this museum when you can. The art is beautiful. The employees are knowledgeable and kind.

This an absolutely amazing museum with sculptures and paintings. The topics are Western themed with some Native American east coast and some Civil war painting too. The works are amazing. It is one of those museums you do not rush through because so many are just excellent. read more

I could not believe the collection! What an absolute gem. We only had an hour-ish here due to family commitments but my spouse loves western art. I could have stayed a few hours & he could have stayed all day. Well worth a visit. read more

This museum is a hidden gem. My lovely bride and I have visited several times, and we're always impressed with their collection and special exhibits - one on Andy Warhol's art works with a western theme, another on Georgia O'Keeffe's life in Abiquiu and the Ghost Ranch in New Mexico. We like the Booth's collection of modern art. The museum staff is pleasant and very knowledgeable. Highly highly recommended! read more

Not only were the exhibits wonderful, the staff here were nothing but kind and helpful. We came for a day trip with our elderly relatives and they made sure everyone was comfortable and that we had good recommendations for places to eat after our trip through the museum. The entire trip was great and I cannot recommend the museum enough. read more

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I am a Western fan. Louis L'Amour books, John Wayne movies, and Red Dead Redemption are a great day for me. So, I'm heavily biased towards western lore. If you're not, take my review with a grain of salt. For the money, Booth is a great value. The Remington art is of course a must. But the other drawings, paintings, and sculpture were just as fascinating. And the spectrum wasn't limited to a full historical review. The modern western interpretation section was a lot of fun for me, especially to see how the Lone Ranger continues to impact western lore. It's convenient to local eateries and definitely makes for a fun morning out. read more

This Smithsonian-affiliated museum is another of Cartersville's surprising museum gems. I had been a dozen or so years back & appreciated it even more this time - even with a 6-yr old grandson along. Haha. Speaking of that, this is a legit art museum so rambunctious kids should be kept close. Also, I comment the staff for creating Sagebrush Ranch in the basement area - a museum play place for kids (with their parents). Grandson loved running back & forth in there to get on & off the life size horse, pretend to ride the stagecoach & do some simple interactive activities. I'd encourage them to continue expanding this area). Otherwise, you have several levels of fabulous Western art & sculptures, Native American sections & the Hall Of Presidents & their memorabilia. Check it out & then eat in one of the very good nearby restaurants. read more

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This museum is amazing. The artwork is outstanding. So many pictures, paintings, statues, displays. You really have to spend most of the day here because there's so many rooms, and outside statues. I love this place. The Kenny Rodgers photo display is cool. A great asset to Cartersville! read more

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A wonderful and extensive collection of authentic Western & Native American art plus a very nice presentation of US Presidents. The Booth is an extremely unique museum in Cartersville GA, alongside its city square which offers many nice shops and restaurants to complement your visit. I found The Booth to be a unique experience; a gem here in the Southeast. A great destination to share with out-of-town guests just 45 min north of Atlanta. read more

What a lovely first class museum. Very well organized for our current situation with timed mobile tickets available on line. Diverse, unique, and beautifully curated. Smithsonian has a hand in this treasure. Even if Western Art isn't usually your thing- this collection is diverse, and well themed, and explained. Much American history in this collection. Well located near both walkable shops and restaurants. read more

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Spectacular museum. The Booth museum highlights loads of beautiful art featuring Western subjects; it's really quite overwhelming. They have paintings and sculptures both (including some gorgeous sizable sculptures both inside and outside. The variety of subjects is stunning: they have the cowboys that you've expect, but they also feature the Civil War and lots of focus on Native Americans and Westerners of color, both black and Hispanic. I learned a lot by looking at their exhibits specifically focused on the diverse backgrounds of people in the West. Another fantastic element of their collection is that they have a written document from every president in the history of the United States. Amazing and really awe-inspiring! They have numerous docents around the museum, all of whom were very helpful. Everything about this place is well-done; the restrooms and facilities were clean; the gift shop has some good stuff (not just trinkets); the people were friendly; the cafe had good food; there are lots of benches scattered around; it's a great facility. They even have a coat room with no charge. Parking is easy to access, and the museum is in easy walking-distance of numerous local eateries. I quite recommend it; depending on your stamina, you could easily spend a half-day there and not take in everything. A real treasure. Also: their guest services and group services staff are excellent. They were very communicative with us, were flexible, and even refunded us some money (without us asking) when some of our group didn't make the trip. Great place with great people. read more

The amount of sculptures is just astounding. I am in awe about this museum. Beautiful art and sculptures. I also loved the descriptions that came with the paintings. Very mindful. Definitely will go back to see more exhibits. read more

One of my favorite museums to visit. It is made up of several galleries, and exhibits. Admission was $12 in 2017 but they do have discounts. There is a pamphlet that has some rules like please don't touch, no food or drink, please stand back, no weapons and a photography policy. The Orientation Theatre is a 15 minute film about the American West and runs every 20 minutes. This theatre sits 60 people. My favorite gallery is the Presidential Gallery. It's probably every body's favorite too. It has a picture and display of every President we have had along with a one page signed letter. There is a Civil War Gallery in here too that has some of the best Civil War art works I have seen. These are numerous oil paintings of different scenes of the Civil War. Some are amazing and unbelievable oil paintings. There is also a Cowboy Gallery, an Indian Gallery, Western Movie Gallery. Each show casing it's on oil paintings of Cowboys and Indians. There is also a cafe in here where you can get something to eat. However, they are only open Tuesday through Saturday at the present. They also have special events here. I was lucky to be here during the Cowboy Festival and Cowboy Church. They had plays during the Cowboy Festival inside at theatres similar to a movie theatre with comfortable seats. I saw one reenactment of the shootout at the OK Corral. It was interesting yet entertaining to watch the actors. They had guns going off, arguments, fights and of course the gun fight. In summary, I would visit again. I spent several hours here and didn't have time to see everything. I I would recommend getting here early and see the 1st floor first. Then, take a break and eat at the cafe that is here. Finally, go up stairs to even more spectacular art galleries to see. read more

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Outstanding Western museum. Great collection of paintings and bronze in a beautiful building. A must visit. read more

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I love it. My kids love it. It's a beautifully curated museum. The cafe is good too. Makes for a very fun day.

World class art in rural Georgia. Named America's top museum two years running by USA Today read more

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This is by far the best exposition of western art that I have ever seen. It is worth the drive

This might be the first non-restaurant I've reviewed, but it's worth it. A few years ago on San Antonio my family and I went to the Briscoe Western Art Museum and enjoyed our visit, so I was curious to see if this place was just as good and I'm happy to say that it is. It's a spacious museum with photography, digital art, canvas paintings and sculptures. My favorite part of the museum had nothing to do with Cowboys or Indians though. There is a gallery focused on presidents with a letter from each of them in their handwriting (or typed). It was good to read through some of them as they responded to people or just welcomed visitors to the museum. Although this place is about 40 to 60 minutes away from Atlanta, it's a good place to visit. read more

Fantastic place to come experience Western art forms at its FINEST. Great staff and hours. Located within walking distance of shops and local Mom and Pop restaurants and eateries. Great shopping of all kinds read more

Fascinating art collection, you can't get through it all in one day... A great place to visit, and it's hard to believe that Cartersville has such a wonderful museum! Definitely a place everyone should visit! read more

This is such a cool museum! Completely underrated! All the history and the art work, even for the "non artsy type" still a fun stop! I loved all the presidential letters and fun acts about them! Completely engaging and enjoyable for the family. It's a bit far out but well worth the drive! read more

This museum looks pretty unassuming from the outside. Well taken care of and some wonderful sculptures then you go inside. The entire staff were helpful, let you be or offered some knowledge depending on what you were doing it seemed. The galleries were fantastic, art & history and some of the best collections to reflect on the struggles of that period read more

"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. read more

I would be hard pressed to think of how the Booth could improve; it's a fabulous local resource with hundreds -- maybe thousands -- of paintings, sculptures and artifacts depicting virtually every aspect of western life. We went yesterday to see the Saturday Evening Post exhibit, which was so well done, I walked through it twice. The original painting was presented next to the magazine cover. I, like many of us, thought Norman Rockwell was the magazine's premier cover artist ... but there were so many more: Hughes, Falter, Clymer -- excellent artists I never before heard of! We pick up a different nugget of information from the Hall of Presidents, every time we go. (Did you know that President Garfield was able to write Greek with one hand, while writing Latin in the other? I'm talking simultaneously!!!) The building's architecture is beautiful, the staff is friendly and helpful -- and admission is only $10 for adults. (Less for students and seniors.) If you haven't yet visited the Booth, what are you waiting for??? Go! read more

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. read more

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This is an impressive western museum. It is affiliated with the Smithsonian Museum. It has an excellent play area for small kids. Prices are reasonable. Parking was free. Probably spend 1 to 3 hrs there. It also has an excellent civil war room. read more

This museum has something for everyone...even if you are not a "Western Art" enthusiast! There is so much for children of all ages to enjoy! read more

Went with my kids. We didn't do a guided tour, so it was free. We had a great time, and had a chance to check out a lot of neat little things. Our visit ended up being a few hours. read more

Well worth a visit. The museum is first rate and the collection is extensive and well curated. This museum is an unexpected gem and easily one of the top art.museums in the Southeast. read more

Best art museum in GA. Hands down! Booth houses mostly private art collections on loan focused on western and Native American culture. It also has a gallery on American presidents (photos, letters, signatures, paintings, sculptures). It's located in Cartersville b/c the patrons' and their mentor decided to house their private collection in a single building. Here's the DL. + HUGE collection of western paintings and sculptures + Many paintings of buffalo solders and Asian rail workers contributions to the growth of the West + Traditional artists (Remington, Russell) to current (Falter, Griffing) + Well arranged Native (North) American art (paintings, photos, textiles, pottery... and culture (IMO better than NM of American Indian at The Mall) + Modern western paintings and sculptures (Hollywood, Warhol, other pop artists) + Presidents gallery - unexpected... photos, letters, signatures and some bronze busts (Lincoln) of all presidents by order + Special Exhibit on Edward Curtis "By her hand" - largest collection of Curtis I've seen focused on women. This is on loan from local and nearby collectors - public will unlikely see most of these again. Curtis is largely unknown outside of Pacific NW and he photographed / documented Native Americans for 20+years in the early 1900s. = outdoor sculpture garden = Basement gallery exhibits local photographers' works on display = café - gift shop is mostly kid friendly stuff and was disappointed not to spend money + Modern spacious building with good lighting + Docent led tours were free and often - I didn't participate but spoke with a docent who was very knowledgeable and was happy to share his thoughts. The entrance fee is $10 and is well worth it. I didn't find parking lot for the museum and parked across the street at the church for free. The welcome desk staff was friendly. It took me about 2.5 hours and was not crowded. Mostly adult guests but they all seem to talk throughout the gallery...so I had my earbuds on. The location is geographically challenging and took 45 minutes from Atlanta each way on I-75 with all the construction but I got to discover the museum and historic Cartersville :-) Fabulous art and historic discovery! read more

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A must-see in Downtown Cartersville! Don't let the western art turn you off...the facility itself is amazing!

We thought we might spend ~1 hour browsing through the Booth on the way home to Nashville from a weekend trip to Atlanta. Instead, I think we stayed more than 3 hours and they practically had to throw us out at closing time. This would be a phenomenal art collection in any big city. The fact that this world-class museum exists in a small town like Cartersville, Georgia is mind-blowing. I asked around, but folks in Atlanta didn't seem to know anything about this place. They don't know what they're missing. Incredible artistry beautifully presented inside a lovely modern building. The museum mostly focuses on art - sculpture, paintings, prints, movie posters, etc. - but there are also some Western artifacts and a collection of letters from every U.S. President. We also caught up with a guided docent tour (included in the admission price) that was informative and a lot of fun. The docent clearly had a lot of enthusiasm and passion for the art, which really came through in the tour. The Booth also gets some great temporary exhibits. There's an exhibit of animal art on display until September 7, 2014 (http://boothmuseum.org/exhibitions/temporary-exhibitions/). If I lived within 100 miles, I'd definitely become a member. If you're visiting Atlanta or just driving by on I-75, I'd strongly encourage you to make a little detour and stop by. Just make sure to leave at least a couple of hours, because you probably won't want to leave. PS - I think the museum has a cafe (http://boothmuseum.org/visit/#cafe), but we ate at Swheat Market (http://www.yelp.com/biz/swheat-market-cartersville?hrid=zLpbaFUNC6nlmtaYEZMvUQ), which is a lovely local sandwich shop about a 2-minute drive from the Booth. Highly recommended! read more

Booth Western Art Museum - Cowboy sculpture outside the Booth entrance - Art Museums Near Me - Cartersville, Georgia

This museum is stunning! I could spend hours and hours wandering around. In the basement area they have a great kids spot. My 6 and 8 year old love it. read more

Great museum for western art, history and presidential history. Great way to spend the afternoon. This is heavy painting and sculpture and may not appeal to smaller children. read more

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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! read more

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Loved this museum since they had the Ansel Adams exhibit a few years ago... Not sure about the volunteers here. Last I was at the museum was August 2018. 90 degrees out that afternoon and I always have my water bottle (in a shoulder bag) with me. Got tickets and walked the entire first floor seeing all the art pieces, past multiple museum workers without any problems with my bottle. Then when we got to the second floor, while enjoying the art, a volunteer came up next to me and said "we don't allow water bottle in the museum". Not until I said "okay... Should I bring it back to my car?!", then he said "you can put it at the front desk." Really not that big a deal, but if you were to tell me water was not allowed, may be followed it up with a solution before needing me to ask. It's less rude and less offensive. read more