Booth Western Art Museum: go West without ever leaving the South
Published: Apr 24, 2009
Tales of cowboys and Indians, the Pony Express, gunfights and the rugged western landscape have captivated the imaginations of generations of Americans. But at the Booth Western Art Museum in Cartersville, the tale of how the West was won is told through colorful paintings and exceptionally detailed sculptures.
Georgia may seem an unlikely spot to showcase fine Western art, but visitors to Booth will find 80,000 square feet of paintings, drawings, sculptures and interactive, hands-on activities that rival those museums west of the Mississippi.
The museum is arranged in six galleries. On the ground floor, the American West Gallery, which includes Symbols of the West; Faces of the West; First Peoples; Colliding Cultures; Wild, Wooly & Wicked; Let’s Rodeo and Modern West. Each room features fine art pieces focusing on a different aspect of the Western saga.
Upstairs the Mythic West Gallery showcases artwork portraying — Western movie stars, book and magazine covers since these iconic images have bolstered the legendary appeal.
The Reel West Gallery follows up with a movie poster theme in a tribute to this unique art form. Inside the Cowboy Gallery visitors will find art depicting the cowboy culture that continues to this day.
The Presidential Gallery displays the likenesses, history and an actual letter signed by 43 U.S. Presidents. The War is Hell Gallery, which features Civil War depictions, might be the most initially striking with its larger-than-life painting of a burning Atlanta at the entrance.
For the younger set, Sagebrush Ranch invites children to ride a stagecoach, brand a cow, play in the corral or draw a buffalo. It’s a haven for parents tired of reminding children “don’t touch!”
A special exhibition called “Wild At Heart,” featuring wildlife art from throughout the U.S., will be on display until July 19.
- by Christine Foster, Atlanta Reporter for HelloMetro
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