Booth Western Art Museum honoring former President Jimmy Carter
CARTERSVILLE, Ga. - The Booth Western Art Museum in Cartersville has joined the nation in mourning the loss of former President Jimmy Carter, honoring his memory with a special tribute in its Carolyn and James Millar Presidential Gallery. A memorial wreath now adorns the space beside his sculpted bronze portrait, a permanent fixture celebrating his lifetime of service.
President Carter’s legacy is prominently displayed in the gallery, which features his photographic portrait by renowned photographer Yousuf Karsh alongside images of every U.S. president. Visitors can also view a bronze portrait sculpted by artist Julia Knight, as well as a congratulatory letter Carter penned to the museum upon its opening in 2003.
"I am particularly interested in the Presidential gallery that will house photographs and letters from each president, and I would be honored to have this letter included in your exhibit," Carter wrote in the letter, which remains on display.
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Born James Earl Carter Jr. in 1924 in Plains, Georgia, Carter preferred the nickname "Jimmy." Serving as the 39th President of the United States from 1977 to 1981, he was the only native Georgian to hold the nation’s highest office and the oldest living former president in U.S. history. Before his presidency, Carter served as Governor of Georgia from 1971 to 1975.
During his time in the White House, Carter championed environmental protection, expanded the national park system to include 103 million acres in Alaska, and established the Departments of Education and Energy. His achievements also include brokering the Camp David Accords, the Panama Canal Treaties, and a second round of Strategic Arms Limitation Talks. Despite his successes, global challenges such as the Iran hostage crisis and energy shortages cast shadows over his administration.
In his post-presidential years, Carter cemented his reputation as a global humanitarian. He received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002 for his efforts through the Carter Center in Atlanta, where he advocated for human rights, combated infectious diseases, mediated peace negotiations, and monitored elections. Carter was also a driving force behind Habitat for Humanity and authored numerous works, ranging from political memoirs to poetry.
The Booth Western Art Museum, an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, invites the public to pay their respects to President Carter by visiting the Presidential Gallery. The museum, located in Cartersville, showcases a variety of contemporary Western artwork, as well as Civil War art and presidential memorabilia.
Open since 2003, the Booth Museum has earned national acclaim, being named the "Best Art Museum in the United States" by USA Today’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards for three consecutive years (2020–2022). For more information, visit www.boothmuseum.org.