Pope’s Museum has been inducted into the National Registry of Historic Places for Art and Women’s History, and while much of her original works have been destroyed or taken off-site, a visit to Pope’s Museum still conveys both the artistic beauty and genius of Laura Pope Forester, as well as appreciate the inspiration that she demonstrated in breaking the gender barriers of the 19th and 20th century and the sacrifices endured by our military families.
This folk-art museum was featured in the Library of Congress & the Smithsonian Magazine. The house features old-growth hardwood floors, tongue-n-groove walls & ceilings, artwork on the walls, and a series of sculptures outside. Laura’s house, constructed in 1854, became her canvas as she expanded and transformed it over time, adding stories and sculptures.
Laura Pope Forrester, a self-taught artist, created an impressive museum at her home with over 200 sculptures and mesmerizing murals, signifying her artistic brilliance and early feminist beliefs. She is considered one of the first self-taught outsider artists. In 1894 she married her schoolteacher, Benjamin Hill Pope, and later, Julian Forrester in 1914 after Benjamin’s passing in 1911.
Laura’s work comprises over 200 sculptures, including a 15-foot high, hundred-foot-long entry gate serving as a World War II memorial. It’s adorned with cast iron sewing machine legs and large busts, symbolizing unity during the war effort. She also created lifelike busts of notable figures like Martha Berry, founder of Berry College, and honored women in uniform. On the western side of her property, she carved the names of local soldiers who didn’t return from war onto marble slabs, providing a place for local families to pay tribute to their ancestors.
Touring the site is by appointment only. Tours take about an hour and are given by a personal docent. They include both the grounds and the interior of the home
Credit: Overview from museum website