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

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

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

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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We had not visited this museum for several years. It is a not-insignificant drive for us, so we needed some extra motivation. They had advertised 2 - 3 small temporary exhibits, at least one of which was closing soon. We had time during the holidays so we made a day-trip up to Cartersville. The museum is located within a block of the small downtown area of the city. However, Cartersville has a lot of development starting a few blocks away also, so if you are looking for places to eat, etc. you can find something local. Parking is in a private lot just up/over a hill from the museum. They also noted that there was handicap-accessible parking in a different lot across a small street. There is a sculpture garden surrounding the museum, but it is divided into 2 parts which you need to access separately on opposite sides. The rear side also has direct access to some downtown shops, in case you want to wander down a block or two and check those out. We didn't have time and many appeared closed due to it being a Sunday or a holiday week. The exhibits are spread over 2 floors. The ground floor houses the 'permanent' collection. My impression was that some of these works are truly permanent, while some smaller % may rotate in or out. There are 4 - 5 rooms of paintings and sculptures in mostly traditional styles. Upstairs there is at least one more room similar to what was on the ground floor. There is also a 'gallery of the presidents where they feature individual exhibits and facts (and in many cases a hand-written letter) for each U.S. president. I think there is an adjacent room with a set of murals depicting all of them as well. Also on this floor is the space for various temporary exhibits. The final area is reserved for more modernist interpretations of 'western' art. We had toured it before but I didn't find it quite as interesting as the other exhibits. Since we were interested in checking out a 2nd museum, we skipped that wing this time. They also have an orientation film (which we may have seen before but skipped this time) and regular guided tours (which looked interesting but which didn't fit our schedule for this visit. This museum succeeds in presenting many facets of western art. It is definitely worth checking out. 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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I love it. My kids love it. It's a beautifully curated museum. The cafe is good too. Makes for a very fun day.

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

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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

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

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

"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

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

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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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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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

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

This review is in reference to a field trip for my 3rd grader. When I say it was the WORST "field trip" I've ever attended, I mean it! AWFUL! I never got to spend time with my child, take pictures, or anything like that. Our "tour guide" wouldn't let the children speak, they had to walk "in a straight line" the entire time, we never got to look at anything inside the different art rooms, we only went to different stations in the hallways, sat for 20 minutes at each station, & listened to our guide read a book. The art itself is beautiful, but they should not offer this institute as a "children's field trip" facility, because they do not allow them to act like children. I was miserable, I could only image how the children felt. read more

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

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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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

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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This is an unknown gem of a museum, on an unlikely location. We'd heard about it when it opened, but had never been--in fact, I don't think we'd ever visited Cartersville! This northwestern GA city has a destination they can be proud of. The Booth specializes in western art, and it's truly a world class facility, with an impressive collection of statues, paintings and other fine art. We spent a half day there, and reluctantly headed home without having seen the entire collection. If you're in the area and love art, GO. If you're a fan of western art but don't live in the area, PLAN A TRIP. You won't be disappointed. read more

This exceptional jewel in small town Cartersville is amazing. Had been seeing a Ansel Adams bill board and went to check out a traveling exhibit. Oh my, amazing architecture and huge museum with collection of prints, paintings and sculpture. Looking forward to bringing my Dad who lived out west to see this museum! read more

WHERE DID YOU COME FROM? This place is absolutely the best kept secret in Cartersville, because it took us this long to realize that it is actually here. This museum is tucked away in the historic section of downtown Cartersville past the historic depot. When we arrived, we were easily transported to the Smithsonian because this is truly a first class museum. Don't let the location and price of admission fool you! Admission is only ten dollars for adults and it is money well spent. If you really like to take your time to see and read everything, allow four hours total to be included in two hour increments. I say browse for two hours, eat lunch in the cafe and then browse some more. It can be exhausting but there are several benches throughout so that you may sit and take a break. I loved looking at the beautiful sculptures that are first seen in the courtyard outside of the museum. They depict cowboy and Native American culture. They are very detailed and often capture their subject in motion, (in various positions), and brings them to life. The sculptures continue inside where you will see additional sculptures made of paper. One such sculpture was completed by a husband and wife team over eight months. Be prepared to be blown away! Again, the detail, artistry and talent is just mind-blowing! You must examine these sculptures from every single angle so that you can really appreciate the phenomenal talent that goes into each and every piece. Additional displays include artifacts such as traditional and ceremonial dress, jewelry, boots, saddles and other articles that are unique to Native American and Western culture. Before viewing the Ansel Adams exhibit, you will want to view the film about his life and influences. It only takes about 20 minutes but it is great to see him on film along with the renowned artist Georgia O'Keefe. The exhibit not only show cases Adams' work but it also show cases the photography of other renowned artist such as Imogen Cunningham and others who have been influenced by his work. Looking at the creativity that is reflected in his work, clearly indicates why Ansel Adams is still relevant today. The Presidential gallery is another exhibit that I enjoyed. Along with each photo of the president, there are key facts along with a sample (in the form of a letter), of the President's handwriting. There is also a typed copy of the handwritten letter so that you are able to understand what is being written. Some of the facts were really eye-opening for example President James Madison was only five feet and four inches tall while President Andrew Jackson is the only former prisoner of war to become president. The mural located outside of the gallery gives a great opportunity to name as many of the former (20th century), presidents as you can before you have to look at the key. As I walked through the gallery looking at drawings, I found myself repeatedly looking at the work and reading the bio of the artist because I am looking at paintings that look like photography and I am reading that the artist, (C.L. Ballantyne), is self-taught. WHAT?? Ridiculous! This woman is the Picasso of colored pencil drawings. Her work is truly "off the charts". The Civil War Exhibit (War is Hell), consists of a series of paintings that highlight key aspects of the war such as major battles, Sherman's "March to the sea" following the destruction of Atlanta and Robert E. Lee (with his troops), following the surrender. We must talk about The Café which is a little café on the main level that is open for lunch and serves as a great way to break up your visit. The food is super affordable, and consists of very large servings. My husband's burger was so big in circumference that he had to eat it with utensils. My chicken quesadilla was so big that I thought that she had accidentally given me a double order, but she hadn't. This thing would definitely feed two people. We had a shared order of fries and I had orange juice. The food was good and very filling. It was after 8:00 pm before I even thought about eating my next meal! Whoo! Finally, don't forget to stop by the gift shop on your way out. They have everything from books to jewelry to the traditional t-shirt. read more

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Very surprised by how stunning this whole museum is. Every exhibit left me in awe. I can say that this is the best museum I've ever been to.