Every fall I make a special effort to see the Booth Photography Guild show and exhibit at the Booth…read moreWestern Art Museum. That's how I discovered the Downtown Gallery this year. The gallery, located just a block or two from the museum, is an effort by the museum to "highlight the talents of local and regional artists...." They have a pretty cool, and commendable, goal of making Cartersville a more art focused community. They go about doing that by selling original art by members of the Booth Artists Guild and the Booth Photography Guild and supplement it with prints, posters, books and sculptures of artists who are part of the Booth's collection. All art work is framed and having spent a small fortune on framing the art I own, I was amazed at how reasonable prices are. Even better, I don't have to wait for the Booth Photography Guild show to see some of the great work its members produce. Work gets rotated every three months and since I don't get to Cartersville that often, I'm guaranteed of seeing something fresh when I go. The Downtown Gallery is a nice addition to Cartersville's historic downtown.

Ralph and his assistant were incredibly friendly and polite. They framed a gift for my wife with…read moregreat care. Although the original turnaround time was less than 24 hrs, I waited until the last minute and needed it right away. When I asked if they could frame it within the next hour, Ralph kindly agreed to have it ready in 1 hr and 20 minutes--and it was finished right on time. The price was also very reasonable, especially for such a quick turnaround. If you need a rush framing service with friendly, professional care at a fair price, they are the ones to trust. Highly recommended!

Frame Art Cartersville has created over 20 custom frames for my family and has done an impressive…read morejob with each one. They provide excellent service when designing your frame in a variety of styles, thicknesses, finishes, and matte - selected according to your budget and design preference. The non-glare glass is worth every penny. I am so thankful to have found this great frame shop. Not only do they frame your art for you, but they also sell beautiful artwork as well. Their shop is like a museum and the staff are very helpful. They have good turnaround times too. I trust them with my artwork. Check them out!

What a jewel nestled in the small town of Cartersville, Georgia! I'm a fan of western art and was…read morethrilled 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.

It had been over 4.5 years since we last visited the Booth Western Art Museum. It is a bit far for…read moreus 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.

My boyfriend and I stopped into this place of business as we were exploring all the store fronts on…read morethe main street through downtown Rome. After exploring all the beautiful artwork displayed, on a whim I thought to ask Raphael about restoration of some painting I had Thad had been damaged over the years. he was not only helpful but encouraging in that these important memorable treasures of mine could be repaired for display in our home. not only were we pleased with his service but felt his fees were more than reasonable and affordable. I highly recommend Raphase for the purchase of artwork as well as framing and art restoration.

Amanda + co were very helpful and accommodating in a pinch…read more I needed several pictures framed within a single day, in time for my grandmother's memorial. I walked into the store without an appointment. Amanda and the other person there (I wish I could remember her name) were able to find frames they had in their inventory to fit the pictures, and allowed me to come by to pick up the pictures after hours on the same day (they would not have been open the next day, when I needed the pictures). They even touched up one of the photos I gave them! Thank you both, you helped me pull off a flawless ceremony for my grandmother.

Having arrived during the holiday season when the visitor center was closed, I started my visit to…read moreCartersville at the Bartow history Museum. It's the perfect way to get an overview of the surrounding areas from many perspectives, including historic, economic, civic, etc. The staff, Pat and Rebecca, took the time to show me around on the ground level and later answered many of my questions. I would highly recommend people start their first visit to Cartersville at the Bartow history museum. Cheers

What can I say, not only did the history archived here overwhelm me, but so did the staff! It was…read moreso much more than I expected!!! [ THE SCENE ] I began my journey to Bartow History Museum with a desire to visit important sites for Black History Month. My plan was to post one review per day highlighting either places with significant Black History or Black Owned Businesses, so I got started visiting such places early January. Noble Hill-Wheeler Memorial Center was heavy on my heart because it was thee first Rosenwald School building constructed in Bartow County specifically designed for the education of black children (1924). Well, after about 2 weeks of calling the listed number and getting no live answer I began calling other historic sites on the Cartersville-Bartow Visitors Bureau website. One of those led me to call the museum and that was when I was introduced to sweet Mrs. Pat! It was not at all her responsibility, but she contacted the curator of the Memorial Center who decided to meet me there later in the day, despite not being open due to family tragedy. I insisted she not worry about it, but she was even more insistent that I come for a visit considering I had made the journey. Truly, all the historians and curators blew me away in this small unassuming town. *** [ THE EXPERIENCE ] During my conversation with Mrs. Pat, she insisted I come to the Bartow History Museum first! I'd called her about 45 minutes before arriving because I decided drive to Cartersville on a wing and a prayer, UNDETERRED BY being unsure if anything would be open. God seems to always have a way of rewarding my blind faith efforts. The museum was not on my radar or in my plans, but Pat was highly convincing that it would be well worth my time... and boy was she right! She was the first to greet me and immediately began to give me a tour. Shortly after my arrival Trey, the Museum Director, arrived with a thick stack of archive materials for me to review! He'd heard from Pat that I was wanting Black History information and brought a plethora of files. DID I MENTION HOW OVERWHELEMED I WAS WITH THEIR HOSPITALITY? Trey and Mrs. Pat treated me as if I were an important visiting professor, despite just how many times I told them I am a lowly blogger that had an idea to highlight some Black History Sites for the month. It didn't matter, because it was clear I was important to them! The first floor highlighted the women important to the county history while the second floor covered everything else, including artifacts, displays and powerful videos of timelines and living human history. *** [ FINAL THOUGHTS ] I came to find at least one story to write about, but the archives were vast and full of so many historic importance's that I decided I would do this place absolutely no justice in the limited words yelp allows for a review. So I will simply say, if you are desiring to teach yourself or your children important local history (ESPECIALLY BLACK HISTORY), consider this museum to be the Fort Knox of county information. Cartersville is TRULY impressive with an extravagant wealth of documents, photos and INCLUSIVE American history. But beyond all the information available, my most treasured memory will be how the staff made me feel. I felt totally unworthy of their lavish attention as Pat walked with me and pointed out things I might not have noticed on my own and Trey gave me access to files not within public areas of the museum. Dare I say I felt loved and highly welcomed! As Maya Angelou once famously said: "At the end of the day people won't remember what you said or did, they will remember how you made them feel." I walked away from Bartow County Museum with one overwhelming feeling that doesn't come often or easily - I felt IMPORTANT. God bless you all! 2021 / 29 BlackHISTORYSeries

Abner's in Good Hands -- Champ's Clocks is a Treasure…read more Some businesses are more than just a service -- they're a tradition. Champ's Clocks is exactly that. I first met Nick in 2021 when my grandfather clock stopped working. When the same clock needed attention again recently, reaching out to Champ's Clocks was an easy call. Nick worked me into the schedule without hesitation, and what followed reminded me why small businesses like this one are so special. Nick's father joined him on the second visit, and the experience became something far more meaningful than a simple repair. He shared the rich history of the business -- how the craft was passed down from his own father, and how they've been serving their community with this rare and deeply respected knowledge for quite some time. Listening to him explain the parts and the mechanics of a clock that has been in my family since 1984 was genuinely fascinating. I also had the privilege of experiencing their annual event, held the day before we spring forward, where the chimes ring out in celebration. It was a wonderful moment that perfectly captured how Champ's Clocks has become a true staple of their local community -- a business that genuinely appreciates the people it serves. During the event, we also had the chance to browse their inventory -- which was incredible -- and found the perfect clock for an upcoming milestone birthday. It was a reminder that Champ's Clocks isn't just a repair shop; it's a destination. Most recently, the pendulum became detached. I sent a photo of the part, and Nick not only had it on hand but came out the very next day. I had a scheduling conflict and couldn't be there -- no problem. They came in, completed the repair, sent a photo of the finished work, left the invoice, and had the clock set to the correct time before they left. That kind of trust and professionalism is rare. What also speaks to their integrity is that they could have easily recommended a full rebuild -- but instead they focused on preserving what I have, replacing only the parts that made sense to do together rather than attempting a repair that wouldn't serve me long term. They have always been mindful of cost and genuinely have my best interest at heart. That kind of honesty is everything when you're entrusting someone with something irreplaceable. Our grandfather clock -- named Abner, after my great-grandfather -- is the heartbeat of our home. Its rhythm, its chime, its presence through life's most meaningful moments makes it irreplaceable. Knowing it's in the hands of Nick and his father gives me tremendous peace of mind. In a world increasingly defined by technology and disposability, Champ's Clocks is a reminder that some things are worth preserving -- and that the people who dedicate their lives to that preservation deserve our deepest appreciation. Thank you, Nick, and thank you to your father and the entire Champion family.

WOW!!! What an amazing experience. Andy and Chevy gave us a tour of the store and were very…read moreknowledgeable about all of the inventory. We happened to be there at the top of the hour when all of the chimes went off...GOOSEBUMPS! We took [pictures and have been showing them to everyone who will look at them. If they do not have the clock for you, then you don't need a clock. We left our clock for repair and we were told up front that it may be several months before they could complete the work. We were OK with that. Thanks Andy and Chevy for a great experience.