At the Etowah Indian Mounds, you encounter a long span of history: From 1000 to 1550 AD, the site was home to several thousand members of Indigenous communities. Six earthen mounds, a plaza, a settlement area, clay pits and a defensive ditch are part of this protected complex. Its various features give your visit a tangible historical context.
History from early settlements to the present
At the Bartow History Museum, the view broadens: It presents 200 years of Bartow County history, from Cherokee settlement in the early 19th century to contemporary events. The museum is housed in a restored courthouse dating from 1869. The building’s history and the county’s history thus meet in one place.
The Euharlee Welcome Center & History Museum focuses on a different geographic area. It presents the history of Euharlee and southwestern Bartow County, from Cherokee history to the present. Those interested in the history and culture of the region’s Black population will find a dedicated perspective at the Noble Hill-Wheeler Memorial Center: This local history museum reflects that history from the late 19th century to today.
The Memorial Center is a restored Rosenwald School dating from 1923. It was the first school for Black children in the Bartow County school system to be built according to standardized specifications. The school’s history brings a distinctive part of the region’s past to light, while the Center’s exhibits span the period through to the present.
Buildings and landscapes also bear traces of history. The Euharlee Covered Bridge is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is part of the Georgia Covered Bridge Trail. In 1886, the county commissioned Washington W. King and Jonathan H. Burke to build the 138-foot-long bridge. At the Allatoona Pass Battlefield, well-preserved earthworks and trenches from the Civil War battlefield remain visible. Information panels and several monuments to the soldiers who took part in the battle explain the historical context. The access road is via I-75 Exit 283 and Emerson Allatoona Road.
Art, science and changing perspectives
The Booth Western Art Museum showcases contemporary Western art and includes a Presidential Gallery. The museum also collects and displays portraits and letters from presidents. An annual event is the Southeastern Cowboy Festival and Symposium; the exact dates vary. So if you want to plan your trip around the festival, check the dates for your desired year.
At the Tellus Science Museum, dynamic exhibits and experiences introduce scientific concepts. In addition to the four galleries, there is a Solar House and a Fossil Dig area, where children can take a fossil home as a souvenir. At the Bentley Planetarium, a digital projector takes you from the solar system to the edge of the galaxy and beyond. This brings different ways of exploring scientific topics together in one place.
The Savoy Automobile Museum focuses on the beauty and history of the automobile. It offers changing exhibitions, educational programs and other experiences on the subject. Its five exhibition galleries consist of four changing galleries and one gallery for the permanent Savoy Collection. The museum is located on a site of approximately 37 acres, right off I-75.
Lake Allatoona and outdoor trails
Lake Allatoona is a 12,000-acre lake on the Etowah River and occupies a large part of the southeastern corner of Bartow County. Red Top Mountain State Park lies on the lake and is ideal for swimming, water skiing and fishing. More than 15 miles of trails also wind through the wooded park, offering opportunities for exercise and nature photography. Water activities and forest trails thus provide two different ways to spend time outdoors.
The Etowah River Trails in Cartersville offer a distinct river experience: They provide paddlers with 163 miles of river water trails. The designated water trails and the trails at Red Top Mountain State Park offer different ways to experience the landscape: one refers to paddling routes, the other to trails through the wooded park.
Whether you are more interested in archaeological sites, regional history, art and science, or activities on the water, Bartow brings these themes together without letting any one focus replace the others. The specific differences can help you choose your destinations: Etowah tells the story of a settlement site dating from 1000 to 1550 AD; museums focus on county history, regional culture, art and science; and Lake Allatoona is a hub for water activities and trails in green surroundings.
Discover more destinations: Cartersville, White, Adairsville, Rydal, Hart County, Union, Baldwin County, Seminole County.
For the broader travel overview: Georgia.
