Paducah’s National Quilt Museum
exhibiting authentic Civil War quilts

In the turmoil of the Civil War, when the North fought the South and brother confronted brother, there was a utilitarian common denominator.

That was the quilt.

From July 12 through Oct. 8, Paducah’s National Quilt Museum is exhibiting “From the Pieces of a Nation: Civil War Period Quilts,” an exhibit featuring more than 30 quilts made during the war years.

Handmade quilts tell a story about their makers and the time in which they lived, museum officials point out, and the Civil War quilts on display are no exception. The quilts date from several years before and after the war itself and each one “provides a window into one quilter’s perspective and experience.”

“It is our pleasure to share these remarkably preserved pieces of history,” Judy Schwender, National Quilt Museum Curator/Registrar, explained. “At a time when the nation was wracked by turmoil, the craft of quilting may have provided a simple comfort. And these quilts showcase the variety of intricate designs and fabric choices available to quilters during the Civil War era.”

Among the unique and evocative quilts on display is a presentation album quilt made for the Rev. D. C. McCoy, Illinois Infantry Volunteers. As part of the 137th Illinois Infantry, McCoy was mustered on June 5, 1864. The regiment served for 100 days.

The presentation album quilt exhibits both handcraft skill and patriotism. In the lower right-hand corner is an applique of the original American flag. The quilt also bears a date patch: “United States of America, August 20th AD 1869.”

Quilts in the Civil War exhibit are on loan from the Arlan and Pat Christ Collection. Residents of Berks County, Pa., the Christs are steadfast protectors of American quilting traditions, helping to preserve an important aspect of daily life through outreach and education.

The National Quilt Museum is the world’s largest and most prestigious museum devoted to quilts and fiber art. The museum welcomes visitors from all 50 U.S. states and from more than 40 foreign countries from every continent. Onsite and travelling exhibits are viewed by more than 110,000 people per year.

In addition, more than 6,000 youth and adults participate in the museum’s educational opportunities on an annual basis.

The museum is located in a 27,000-square-foot facility in historic downtown Paducah. For more information, contact Marketing Director Susan Edwards at 270-442-8856 or sedwards@quiltmuseum.org.