Cartersville, Georgia, has no less than three world-class museums: Booth Western Art Museum, Tellus Science Museum, and, maybe the best place to find the first car you ever cranked, the Savoy Automobile Museum. Wife Cindy and I recently spent a few hours at Tellus Science Museum and departed wishing we had scheduled more time there. I stress “world class.” Not exaggerating. These museums are amazing places to visit with your grands, spouse, or significant other. The historic downtown area is somewhat of a museum in and of itself, featuring an 1854 depot that barely survived General Sherman’s wrath when he dissected Georgia in a reign of terror. In fact, Cartersville needs to be on your long-weekend bucket list. The locals are friendly, the attractive downtown is laid-back, unrushed, and plain fun.
Frankly, I love visiting this small town northwest of Atlanta because I like visiting quaint towns where I feel it’s safe for my family. According to Shelly Humble, Tellus Science Museum Marketing Director, “As far as crime goes, we have the sweetest little downtown area. And I have never once felt the need to clutch my purse to my chest while walking—not even at night in the dark. Cartersville boasts the number one farmers’ market in the state. You just can’t have that kind of accolade in an unhappy town. You’d be hard-pressed to find a better place to live, work, and play. Museum City is a great day getaway! Tellus Science Museum is filled with dinosaurs, gems, space exploration, and more, with a twist of hands-on fun for all ages. Then, head to downtown Cartersville for lunch at a selection of chef-owned restaurants, including a wood-fired handcrafted pizzeria, made-fresh-daily New York-style bagels, and decadent gourmet cupcakes at HeavenScent Bakery.”
Shelly’s favorite is the tropical mandarin pineapple cupcake.
Cindy and I enjoyed lunch at Swheat Market, where Kayleigh, the young lady at the order desk, introduced us to Red Pepper & Gouda Soup that pairs well with a chicken salad croissant. (FYI: If you’re in Holland, where it’s made, this delicious cheese is pronounced Howda, not Gouda.)
Like the other museums, Tellus is a state-of-the-art attraction situated on several acres of beautiful park-like property. Parking is ample, and clean restrooms are conveniently located just off the parking area, well before the entrance. (Obviously, if you pass them by, there are others inside the museum.) One entire building is dedicated to space exploration. That’s where we started. One large screen video exhibit shows astronauts experiencing zero gravity. After viewing their antics for a few minutes, we were able to ascend a ramp, enter an exact replica of the Space Station that we were watching on the screen, and experience a bit of the sensation of weightlessness ourselves, as the room rotated around us. Historic triumphs—and tragedies—of space exploration are displayed. And there are lots of interactive opportunities for children and adults alike. On special occasions, the Tellus Observatory is open for viewing the moon and planets through a 20-inch telescope. The observatory also houses a seismograph used to detect earthquakes all over the world. For observatory tour times, visit the Tellus website at www.tellusmuseum.org.
When we entered the second, larger structure, we joined a group of children in a circle around Foucault’s Pendulum that demonstrates the Earth’s rotation in action. Fascinating! This building has cavernous rooms dedicated to “antique” technologies (we all grew up with) that have now been replaced by a single smart phone; early aviation, including a replica of the 1903 Wright Flyer with actual film of its first flight; other early forms of transportation; and … a massive skeletal reproduction of a plant-eating, rock-swallowing—it helped with digestion—Brontosaurus, 23 feet high and 82 feet long! If you get tired of standing, you can get off your feet by taking a seat in the Bentley Planetarium for an incredible ride through our solar system to the edge of the galaxy and beyond. And then, there’s a whole wing devoted to the science of gems. Tellus offers something for everyone—a great place to get your grands off their cell phones and into actually learning something about the world they have inherited!
Before departing, stop by the museum store and say hello to Vicki for me. She’s been working at the museum for two years and has met people from all over the world. “We’ve had people from India, China, and Japan. We get a lot of tourists here,” she said.
Is it not amazing that in Cartersville, Georgia, population 25,548, there are three world-class museums that most of us in the River Region have never even heard of? And they attract visitors from all over the planet! Cartersville is about 3 and ½ hours from the River Region. My favorite route is up I-85, left at LaGrange, sometimes stopping for lunch in the pretty downtown historic square at Carrollton, and then through Villa Rica and Dallas. You must visit these amazing museums. You’ll be glad you did. Happy New Year!
Photos courtesy of Tellus Science Museum. Visit www.downtowncartersville.org for more information.
Jeff Barganier is a novelist, travel writer and speaker. He travels far and wide upon the slightest excuse for something interesting to write about. His novels include Lawson’s Bluff (2021); The Slash Brokers (1998). He also manages Cindy Barganier Interiors LLC (www.cindybarganier.com) at The Waters in Pike Road, Alabama. Contact Jeff at Jeffbarganier@knology.net. You may print out his features at www.jeffbarganier.com and take them with you when you travel!