Cartersville, Georgia: Small Town, Big Museums
July 5, 2017 by Debi Lander · Leave a Comment
Despite traveling extensively, I’m still impressed when I discover big things in small places. Cartersville, Georgia, a city of 20,000 residents about 40 minutes north of Atlanta, offers major draws. It’s the smallest town in the U.S. with two Smithsonian Affiliate Museums: one an art museum and the other a Science facility.
2001 Oil Paianting in Booth Museum
The Booth Western Art Museum houses the largest permanent exhibition space for Western art in the entire country- yes, the entire United States. And, what a fabulous place it is. Approach the modern 120,000-square-foot limestone and glass building and discover an outdoor sculpture garden. Larger than life statues of what kids call ‘cowboys and Indians’ populate the lawn. Inside displays of contemporary Western artwork, Civil War art, more than 200 Native American artifacts and presidential portraits and letters abound.
Cowboy statue in the sculpture garden outside the Booth Museum, Catersville, GA..
The American West Gallery spans 175 years, with poignant creations by famed artists such as Charles M. Russell, Frederic Remington, and George Caitlin as highlights. Artifacts include beaded clothing, saddle and leather art and a cowboy collection.
Indian Sculpture at Booth Western Museum
The Civil War Gallery displays evocative artwork that chronologically depicts battles and events from the tragic divide.
The Modern West Gallery focuses on Western art from the past 50 years. Contemporary pieces by Western trendsetters incorporate bronze, fiberglass, and even paper, and show the progression of stylistic changes. A pop art styled portrait of Sitting Bull by Andy Warhol may be far removed from the artist’s Pittsburgh roots, but captivates.
Sitting Bull by Andy Warhol
The Millar Presidential Gallery took me by surprise – itself reason enough to visit. The gallery showcases a signed, page-long letter by each of the forty-four previous American Presidents. Meandering through the personal documents in the dimly lit space gives a sense of intimacy with the past leaders. Some visitors simply enjoy comparing the handwriting and signatures and viewing the photos.
Thomas Jefferson signed Letter
Composite painting of US Presidents
Adults love Sagebrush Ranch as much as the children for whom it was built. My inner child couldn’t resist the hands-on, interactive exhibits and I giggled sitting in a stagecoach bouncing along as if being pulled by horses. Children are encouraged to recreate Native American beadwork, make a Western landscape, invent designs branding, dress as settlers and mount a replica horse for photo ops.
Having fun in Sagebrush Ranch.
Stagecoach in the Booth Western Art Museum.
While in Cartersville, take another day to tour the equally immense and fascinating Tellus Science Museum. Who can resist a dinosaur fossil with an oversized personality? This guy jumps out from a lobby and pulls you into an area brimming with the bones from giant mammals, reptiles, and dinosaurs, like the Tyrannosaurus Rex, saber-tooth cat, and the Megalodon shark.
Tellus Museum Dinosaur
One of the most appealing areas for children is the sand pit where kids, aka young paleontologists, can free fossils in various shapes and sizes. Next, they grab a pan at the Gem Panning exhibit and begin searching for hidden stones and crystals. Children may keep their discoveries as souvenirs.
Mineral mining contributes to the economy in this region and the Mineral Gallery in the Tellus is a real gem. The gleaming displays of gigantic geodes and polished gemstones even astonish hobbyists.
Panning for gold in the Tellus Museum
Don’t leave before taking a visual journey through our solar system in the state-of-the-art Planetarium.
If Native American history appeals, drive to the Etowah Indian Mounds State Historic Site. The flat-topped mounds date back to 900-1550 A.D. Climb to the top and tour the small museum to learn about this historic settlement.
The Cartersville area also includes Old Car City USA, the world’s largest known classic car junkyard covering 40 acres with miles of walking trails. Many car buffs and photographers find the forest of 4,000 forgotten cars irresistible. I honestly did not; a half hour visit was enough for me.
Old Car City USA
If you’re looking for big-city attractions in a small town atmosphere, you’ll find them in Cartersville. For more information: VisitCartersvilleGA.org.
A similar article to the above ran in the Florida Newsline publications: Consider Cartersville.
Castle Hopping Road Trip Through Scotland
June 2, 2017 by Debi Lander · Leave a Comment
The lure and history of castles, romantic countryside and the majestic Highlands drew me to Scotland in the summer of 2016. I wrote the following road trip story for a Boomers Travel website and hope you will click and read here: http://myitchytravelfeet.com/2017/05/30/scotland-roadtrip/.
Storm looms over Kilchurn Castle in Scotland.
Road Trip to the Wild Side of Amarillo, Texas
March 6, 2017 by Debi Lander · Leave a Comment
When a conference took travel writers, Debi Lander and Judy Wells, to South Dakota, they decided to make the most out of it and took a road trip to Badlands National Park and Mount Rushmore. They kept track of their adventures on a joint blog called Good Girls in the Badlands. That was back in 2012, but the Good Girls continue to an annual road trip. This story, their latest road adventure, included a tour of Amarillo’s most curious sites, along with a visit to the World Ranch Rodeo Championship. Read the story published on My Itchy Travel Feet here:
Southwestern road trip through the wild sights of Amarillo,Texas
