A great way to get out of the elements and learn about Georgia History…read more
Nancy and I love museums, we have never been to one dedicated to regional folk pottery, so we had to go while on our trip to Helen, GA.
This museum is a short 10-minute drive from downtown Helen; there is plenty of parking in the lot. Entry to the museum is free; however, they accept donations.
Inside, there are several rooms with a variety of art mediums displayed, many of them for sale. There is a large theatre that could be used for plays, live music, and even movies. It seems to still be in operation but could use a refresh. Another room is dedicated to a continuously running a short film about the folk artists of the area, which provides context into the family lineages behind the pottery art. The fun-factor is that the artists biggest sellers were the unique face jugs they created - some funny, some ugly, and some scary, but all of them one of a kind and beautiful in their own way.
You could easily spend an hour in here exploring, viewing the art, taking photos, and reading about the history of each piece. It was a great way to escape the recent heatwave in the area and still make good use of our time.
There are clean restrooms available for visitors and the volunteer staff are friendly and inviting. I highly recommend stopping in while visiting the area.