Only One Quilt was Showing at the Smithsonian...

Alex and Wendy Grande (Show 813 - Enhance Your Appliqué Repertoire... with Ribbon!) visited the National Museum of American History in Washington DC. It is part of the Smithsonian Museums. They searched and found only one quilt on display. It's a wonderful quilt made in 1847 and even has a picture of Saturn on it. Take a look at all of the interesting block designs.

Click on the photo to see a slideshow of the quilt.

Comments

123

#30 Joyce Hawkes 2016-05-01 17:17

It is really beautiful. Would be nice to see it all.

#29 Lynn Randall 2016-05-01 08:48

The American History Museum (part of the Smithsonian) used to have more quilts on display until they renovated a few years ago. If you want to see more quilts on display, go to the DAR Museum. They have about a dozen quilts on display, and they are rotated at least annually (but probably more often than that). The Textile Museum has also undergone a recent renovation. They may be another opportunity for viewing quilts.

#28 Becky in Idaho 2016-04-30 22:53

I just saw this quilt up close and personal two weeks ago - it was gorgeous. To say I was disappointed there weren't more quilts would be an understatement!

#27 Carol 2016-04-30 21:02

I believe the special quilt case was provided by the Smithsonian to always have a quilt safely on display as part of their "apology" for licensing outstanding American quilts to be copied by a Chinese business. They also held a quilt symposium. This was all in the 1990s.

#26 Tiny alderson 2016-04-30 08:47

Does the DAR museum not have a quilt display anymore? When I was there several years ago, in addition to the DAR, there was an exhibit of quilts at one of the smaller buildings of the Smithsonian.

#25 Loretta Thomason 2016-04-29 23:57

Was in DC recently saw this quilt, but also saw incredible quilts at the "Women in Military Service For America" Memorial at Arlington National Cemetary. Built in the 90's to honor those women who served/serve our country so valiantly. While by no means as grand as some for their male counterparts, this made me feel so very proud to be a member of the female species. I salute them all.
There are many, many quilts on display made by civilians to honor those who served. And amazing quilts made by both the active and retired women of valor themselves.
History presented, the photos, the incredible paintings, as well as the stories by the women themselves are such a revealing and poignant reminder of the important role these brave women played, and now play in the present and future of of our nation. I felt it a privilege to see and I thank these women for revealing so much of themselves .
Hey! Let's go make some quilts of valor for women!

#24 Nance Crawford 2016-04-29 17:59

At the very least, the Smithsonian could rotate exhibits of life-sized photos on canvas of the quilts they hold in trust - and could sell reproduction prints, postcards and note cards.

#23 Marn Cameron 2016-04-29 17:07

Wonderful quilt. Wish the photo had been taken without the two women in the foreground as it would have been nice to see the whole quilt.

#22 Diane m Shink 2016-04-29 16:29

Smithsonian
Think that special display case was provided by a group of quilters on the 1980's do there would always be a quilt displayed st the Museum of history Yes there are hundreds of quilts in storage in state of the art specially built drawers
My friend has been doing volunteer work there for years having th photographed and documenting Ratjer than write another book former textile curator made the decision to put the collection onU tube
Http://americanhistory.si.edu/collections/object-groups/national-quilt-collection

#21 ethereal 2016-04-29 16:23

I also had a disappointing trip to the Smithsonian when it comes to quilts. I only saw one - and it was uninspiring. I really expected more from the Museum. As much interest as there is in quilting, you'd think they could find some room for display. :sad:

123

Refresh comments list
RSS feed for comments to this post

Add comment

JComments

Daily Blog