
The Iron Butterfly Trails
Each year, the Cartersville-Bartow Chamber of Commerce hosts a class of local leaders in a process called Leadership Bartow. Within the 2021-22 class, a small group took on the project of reinvigorating the trail systems in Cartersville and Bartow County through the arts. The Iron Butterfly Trails unifies the trail systems and offers opportunities for local entities to get involved through direct sponsorship of large, artistic, metal butterflies placed in various prime locations.
To launch the Iron Butterfly Trails, an initial butterfly was created. That beautiful piece by Patricia Eastin, titled Odyssey of Joy, was installed at Rose Lawn Museum, at the corner of Fite and West Cherokee. This piece is only the beginning.
Each sponsored butterfly is cut to shape by Steel Materials, designed and painted by a local artist, installed and connected to the Ottocast app which features unique QR codes leading tourists and local hikers back to the sponsoring entity.
Special thanks to the Cartersville-Bartow County Chamber of Commerce, our experts Matt Santini and Ellen Archer, and to Team Six (David Stephenson, Dr. Randell Trammell, Amanda Rice, Bethany Muse and Hannah Cook)