🐎 Saddle Up for a Day of Wonder: Our Trip to the Booth Western Art Museum

A kid friendly museum exploration.

If you’ve never visited the Booth Western Art Museum in Cartersville, Georgia, consider this your sign to go ahead and pack the kids, a couple of water bottles, and your curiosity—it’s worth every second of the trip.

We spent the day surrounded by the art, history, and spirit of the American West. But this isn’t just a museum for grownups. It’s a living, breathing experience for kids too—full of stories, play, and hands-on adventure.

🎨 Picking Favorites, Room by Room

One of our family traditions whenever we visit the Booth is this: in each room, every person picks their favorite piece of art.

We wander slowly, let the kids lead, and wait for that moment when someone points and says, “That one!” And then the best part: we talk about it.

Why was that their favorite? What’s happening in the scene? What do you think the artist wanted to say?

Sometimes the answers are silly, sometimes surprisingly deep. But always, it connects us—and it brings the art to life.

🧒 The Kids’ Area: A Dreamland of the Wild West

Let me just say, the children’s section is a hit. This hands-on play area is bursting with imagination:

🐴 Ride-a-horse station (yes, pretend of course—but they go all in!) 🛻 Climb into a stagecoach and “travel the trails” 🧢 Try on Western hats and costumes ♟️ Play checkers with a new friend at a barrel table 🛒 Shop at the old-timey mercantile, complete with groceries 🐮 Pretend they’re mucking the stables or caring for horses

It’s the kind of play that inspires both laughter and learning—and it lets their imaginations run wild while you sneak in some history.

🖋️ A Glimpse into American History… in Cursive

One of the most impactful sections of the museum for me personally was the exhibit featuring handwritten letters and documents from U.S. Presidents. Seeing those original papers—written in elegant, flowing cursive—stirred something in me.

It made me reflect on how many children today struggle to read cursive—a skill that is slowly being lost, but one that holds so much value.

Reading these letters connects us to real people from the past. It reminds me to keep cursive alive in our homeschool—to pass down the ability to read a love note, a historical document, or even a letter from me to them.

🕓 Free Family Night: The Best Secret in Town

Here’s the cherry on top: every second Tuesday of the month, the Booth Museum offers free admission from 4:00 to 8:00 PM for families.

That means you can explore all of this—art, play, conversation, and inspiration—for free. It’s such a gift to the community and a perfect outing for homeschoolers, history buffs, or just curious minds.

💌 Final Thoughts

Whether you’re in Cartersville or just passing through, make the time to visit the Booth. The art is incredible, the hands-on experiences are rich, and the conversations it sparks are priceless.

And if you go, don’t forget to ask your kids:

“Which piece was your favorite… and why?”

Their answers might surprise you—and stay with you long after you leave.

My favorite? I had so many, but I loved the mysterious pony because no matter where you stand, he’s looking right at you.

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Check out the “shop” for free accompanying lesson plans, scavenger hunt, and reflection questions for upper elementary age students.