Discover Bartow: History, Museums and Nature

A waterscape, archaeological sites, and museums reveal different sides of Bartow. Topics range from the history of Indigenous peoples and the development of Bartow County to science, art, and automotive history. Lake Allatoona also offers water sports and trails through wooded terrain as very different options for a day out.

Lake Allatoona and trails through green spaces

The 12,000-acre Lake Allatoona lies on the Etowah River and occupies a large part of the southeastern corner of Bartow County. At the lake, Red Top Mountain State Park offers opportunities for swimming, waterskiing, and fishing. Located in Bartow County, the park is wooded and has more than 15 miles of trails, suitable for exercise and nature photography. This gives you different options for planning the day: water activities or trails through a forested landscape.

Archaeology along the Etowah River

Etowah Indian Mounds State Historic Site offers a glimpse into the area’s long history. From 1000 to 1550 CE, it was home to several thousand Indigenous people. The protected site includes six earthen mounds, a plaza, a village area, clay pits, and a defensive ditch. Together, these features convey different aspects of the former settlement rather than focusing on just one structure or artifact.

A nature trail runs along the Etowah River through the site. This makes it possible to combine learning about the site’s history with a walk by the river. Those who would rather focus on the landscape and activities on the water will find the aforementioned swimming, waterskiing, and fishing opportunities, as well as an extensive trail network, at Red Top Mountain State Park.

Museums spanning county history and science

The Bartow History Museum presents 200 years of Bartow County history, from Cherokee settlement in the early 19th century to contemporary events. It is housed in a restored 1869 courthouse. The Dellinger Family Gallery also explores the county’s history, from the Cherokee period to the present. The broad historical span makes it a good choice for a history-focused visit, and the gallery offers its own perspective on the subject.

The Tellus Science Museum uses dynamic exhibits and experiences to engage visitors with scientific concepts and help them understand them. It includes four galleries and a Solar House. In the Fossil Dig area, children can dig up a fossil and take it home as a souvenir. The Bentley Planetarium adds to the museum’s science focus with a digital projector that takes visitors from the solar system to the edge of the galaxy and beyond.

Art, automobiles, and regional memory

The Savoy Automobile Museum focuses on the beauty and history of the automobile. The museum offers changing exhibitions, educational programs, and other engaging experiences on the subject. Its five exhibition galleries include four rotating galleries and one gallery for the permanent Savoy Collection. The museum is located on a site of about 37 acres, directly off I-75.

The Booth Western Art Museum presents contemporary Western art and includes a Presidential Gallery and an interactive children’s gallery. It also collects and displays portraits and letters of presidents. The museum hosts the Southeastern Cowboy Festival and Symposium each year; exact dates vary. If the festival is relevant to your trip, check the dates for your intended travel year.

The Euharlee Covered Bridge also connects construction history with regional memory: it 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. The Euharlee Welcome Center & History Museum presents the history of Euharlee and southwestern Bartow County, from Cherokee history to the present.

The Noble Hill-Wheeler Memorial Center is a restored 1923 Rosenwald School. It was the first school for Black children in the Bartow County school system built according to standardized plans. Today, the center is a local history museum dedicated to the history and culture of the region’s Black community, from the late 19th century to the present. At Allatoona Pass Battlefield, 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. Access is via Exit 283 on I-75 and Emerson Allatoona Road.

Discover more destinations: Cartersville, White, Adairsville, Rydal, Pike County, Wheeler County, Forsyth, Murray County.

For the overview of the wider region: Georgia.