Quilt Museums - Lists and Links

With summer approaching, you might want to visit one of these USA quilt museums!

1. American Museum of Quilts & Textiles of San Jose, 60 S. Market Street, San Jose, CA 95113. (408) 971-0323. info@sjquiltmuseum.org Jane Przybysz, Ph.D, Executive Director. The first museum to focus on quilts is now celebrating its 30th year! Its mission “is to promote the art, craft and history of quilts and textiles.” Visit http://www.sjquiltmuseum.org

2. International Quilt Study Center, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68583-0838. (402) 472-6549. Dr. Patricia Crews, Director. Founded in 1997 with the donation of more than 900 quilts from the Ardis and Robert James Collection. IQSC now has nearly 2,000 quilts, the world’s largest, from all eras, antique to contemporary and currently representing fourteen nations. Search the museum’s quilt collection online. Visit http://www.quiltstudy.org/

3. Kalona Quilt & Textile Museum, 415 B Avenue, Kalona, Iowa. PO Box 340, Kalona, Iowa 52247-0340. (319) 656-2240. Antique and Amish quilts.

4. La Conner Quilt Museum, 703 S. 2nd Street, P.O. Box 1270, La Conner, WA 98257, (360) 466-4288. lacquiltm@aol.com Marie Kirkman, Director. Opened in 1997. Museum quilt exhibits change every eight weeks. Visit: http://www.laconnerquilts.com/.

5. Lancaster Quilt & Textile Museum, 13 West King Street, Lancaster, PA 17603. (717) 299-6440. info@lancasterheritage.com Peter S. Seibert , President/CEO. Wendell Zercher, Curator. The museum, which opened in 2004, focuses on textiles and quilts from Lancaster County and south-central Pennsylvania, primarily 19th & 20th century Amish Quilts. The former “Esprit Collection,” from Douglas Tompkins, founder of major clothing labels Esprit Corporation and the North Face, forms the core of the museum’s permanent collection. The museum is closed through Nov 2007 for renovations. Visit http://www.quiltandtextilemuseum.com.

6. Museum of the American Quilter’s Society, 215 Jefferson Street, Paducah, Kentucky 42001, (270) 442-8856. info@quiltmuseum.org The museum “is a non-profit institution established to educate, promote, and honor today's quiltmaker.” Bill and Meredith Schroeder are the museum founders. The MAQS opened in 1991 and now includes more than 200 quilts in its permanent collection. Visit http://www.quiltmuseum.org/

7. New England Quilt Museum, 18 Shattuck Street, Lowell, Massachusetts 01852. (978) 452-4207 Ext.15, Marie Geary, Acting Director. Founded in 1987. Happy 20th anniversary! There is a Museum Library with over 2,000 reference books, adult and children’s quilt fiction, videos and quilt magazines. Volunteers are available to answer your questions. Visit http://www.nequiltmuseum.org/

8. The People’s Place Quilt Museum, 3510 Old Philadelphia Pike, PO Box 419, Intercourse, PA 17534. (800) 828-8218. Phyllis Pellman Good and Merle Good, curators and directors. Visit http://ppquiltmuseum.com/

9. The Quilters Hall of Fame, 926 S. Washington Street, Marion, Indiana 46953. (765) 664-9333 quiltershalloffame@sbcglobal.net. Karen B. Alexander, President. QHF is dedicated to honoring outstanding contributions to the quilt world. Founded in 1979 by Hazel Carter. Visit http://www.quiltershalloffame.org/ to read bios of the annual QHF Honorees.

10. Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum, 1111 Washington Ave., Golden, CO 80401-1162. (303) 277-0377. Paula Pahl, Executive Director. Golden, CO quilter Eugenia Mitchell, who wanted to preserve 100 quilts in her collection and share it with the public, was the driving force for what would become the museum, which opened in 1981. The museum is dedicated to the preservation of American quilts and to the continuation of quiltmaking. There are over 300 quilts in its permanent collection. http://www.rmqm.org/

11. Virginia Quilt Museum, 301 South Main Street, Harrisonburg, VA 22801, (540) 433-3818. Founded 1995. Its Permanent Collection contains over 150 quilts dating from 1810 to the present. The museum offers a hands-on Children’s Room where kids can touch quilts, play quilt puzzles, read quilt-related books, and have fun! Visit http://www.vaquiltmuseum.org/

12. Wisconsin Museum of Quilts and Fiber Arts, P.O. Box 562, Cedarburg, WI 53012. (262) 546-0300. wiswool@execpc.com Kay Walters, President. Anne Books, VP. The museum, sponsored by the Wisconsin Quilt History Project, opened in September 2005. http://www.wiquiltmuseum.com/

Have I missed any? Do you have a favorite museum for seeing quilt exhibits? Be sure to leave a comment! Enjoy!