Popes Museum Preservation Inc

Pope’s Museum is the hidden gem of south Georgia. Pope's Museum is a place where art, history, and heart unite to uplift and inspire. Once the home of visionary folk artist Laura Pope Forester, the museum now stands as a living tribute to her creativity, courage, and compassion.

Laura was a self-taught artist who transformed her home into a breathtaking environment of sculpture, painting, and storytelling. Long before the term “folk art” was widely used, she filled her yard with more than 200 concrete figures celebrating strong women, moments in American history, and everyday people who shaped their communities. Her work spoke boldly about heroism, equality, and resilience, themes that still guide Pope’s Museum today.

Though not fully recognized in her lifetime, Laura’s work is now celebrated as one of the oldest documented self-taught art environments in Georgia and the Southeast, and among the oldest surviving in the United States, according to the Georgia Department of Community Affairs. Her home is both a monument to her vision and a reminder of what one person’s creativity can achieve.

Today, Pope’s Museum continues Laura’s mission by serving as a gathering place for art, culture, and community. Through exhibitions, programs, and events, we preserve her story while creating new opportunities for connection and healing.

One newest initiative, Her Strength, is a monthly program designed to support women veterans through art and creativity. Women veterans face unique challenges, from isolation and trauma to higher rates of suicide compared to their male counterparts. Her Strength offers a safe and supportive space where veterans can express themselves through art, find community, and begin to heal. The long-term dream for this program is to grow into a cottage-style art retreat for women veterans, offering rest, restoration, and renewal.

Alongside Her Strength, Pope’s Museum is home to a range of community-focused programs. Our annual Shakespeare Festival is one of our signature community events, a joyful celebration of the arts that brings families, students, and theatre lovers together for live performances, workshops, and creative exploration. This event embodies our belief that art should be accessible, fun, and community-driven.

We are also excited to continue expanding our educational programming with the upcoming Made in Georgia, a Folk Art community learning program, which will highlight the artists and traditions that make Georgia’s cultural landscape so rich. Through hands-on workshops, demonstrations, and storytelling, visitors will learn from local artisans and discover how art connects us across generations.

Every visit to Pope’s Museum offers something new, from guided tours of the historic home and sculpture gardens to seasonal events, exhibitions, and our first-ever 5K Fundraiser on March 14, 2026, which will shine a spotlight on women veterans and raise support for programs like Her Strength.

Sign Up For 5K Here

Behind all of this work are passionate volunteers and staff who care deeply about preserving history, supporting the arts, and strengthening our community. But running a museum of this scale, especially one with historic structures, requires ongoing funding and dedication. Every donation, no matter the size, helps us keep this historic landmark alive and thriving. Your generosity ensures that Laura Pope Forester’s legacy continues, inspiring creativity, honoring service, and celebrating community for generations to come.

When you give to Pope’s Museum, you are not just preserving history. You are keeping alive a place where people come to heal, to learn, and to be inspired. You are helping us honor a woman who changed her world through art, and you are giving others the chance to do the same.

Be part of Laura’s legacy. Give today.