New England Quilt Museum
New England Quilt Museum things to do, attractions, restaurants, events info and trip planning
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I'm so glad we made the trip!! The museum is smaller, but packed with a few revolving exhibits. The quilts are absolutely beautiful and inspiring!! Volunteer docents were very knowledgeable and helpful explaining the exhibits. The gift shop was surprisingly affordable (most gift shops are super overpriced!). I got inspired upstairs in the exhibit and was able to buy a big bag of fabric remnants - several cumulative yards - for just $4! Also lots of handmade goods that would make wonderful gifts. I'm a sewer but the person I went with is not and they also very much enjoyed it. Worth the trip!! Afterwards, I recommend Life Alive, the restaurant across the street, for lunch!
Jocelyn SlaterJocelyn Slater
20
Beautiful, intricately made, and many historic, quilts at this museum. Truly an art form in fabric medium. Collections vary every couple of months and I was excited to see the one from Japan. The curator was present and very engaging, answering our questions, listening to our shared enjoyment of the place. Helpful facts: air conditioned, elevator, restroom, magnifying glasses available for up close viewing, gift shop. Diagonally across the street is the entrance to a Victorian garden, which leads to the Streetcar museum. Parking: on street is available but fills up quickly around 11:30am. We circled the blocks a few times. Cost $9/adult
C HC H
10
Small museum that does not take much time to see. There was an exhibit at the time of my visit focused on the natural resource water. I would not consider the quilts in this display traditional quilts, but excellent displays of fiber art using many different art techniques to tell a story. Very beautiful detailed and time consuming work. There was also a small display of the traditional quilts from the 1800's and early 1900's. Nice gift shop with a variety of quilt and sewing related gifts available.
Jody M.Jody M.
00
So far I’ve visited NEQM twice and to see the Quilts Japan (2023) and the Summer Guild Showcase (2023). A must-see if you are visiting Lowell especially to see the other historical sites nearby. The quilts are easy to view and well lit for a quilter to appreciate all the details and stitching or piecing techniques. On the other hand, the exhibit halls are large enough to house a wide variety of pieces that can appeal to any non-quilter. Docents were in the galleries on a Saturday around 11.
Charlotte DarbyCharlotte Darby
00
Several good exhibits, including different mediums of art quilting, thought provoking exhibit on guns/gun violence and miniature quilts. The gun exhibit wasn't ideally what we would've preferred to have seen, however the other exhibits were wonderful. It is a nice little museum, honoring, celebrating and preserving our craft. Will definitely go back for future exhibits. Very reasonably priced.
Kathryn LeblancKathryn Leblanc
10
Small little museum in old cotton mills in a sleepy town. Visited on a weekday and there was a small group there. Gift shop is the entrance and the museum is on the second floor. It’s definitely small, but the exhibitions were amazing! Seeing the work up close and learning about each and every piece was lovely. As a person who sews casually it got me interested in quilting.
Manaal SyedManaal Syed
40
Nearby Attractions Of New England Quilt Museum
Lowell National Historical Park Visitor Center
Market Basket
Four Sisters Owl Diner
UMass Lowell Inn & Conference Center
Lowell National Historical Park
Boott Cotton Mills Museum
Sophia's Greek Pantry North
Jack Kerouac Park
Abo AL-Ezz Halal Market
National Streetcar Museum at Lowell

Lowell National Historical Park Visitor Center
4.5
(1.8K)Click for details

Market Basket
4.2
(891)Click for details

Four Sisters Owl Diner
4.6
(695)Click for details

UMass Lowell Inn & Conference Center
4.1
(448)Click for details
Nearby Restaurants Of New England Quilt Museum
Cobblestones of Lowell
El Potro Mexican Bar & Grill
Life Alive Organic Cafe Lowell
Romeu & Juliett Cafe
Viet-Thai Restaurant
Rizzo's Roast Beef and Pizza
Gary's Restaurant and Bar
TreMonte Pizzeria Restaurant & Bar
Brew'd Awakening Coffeehaus
Tasty Dumplings

Cobblestones of Lowell
4.4
(547)$$
Click for details

El Potro Mexican Bar & Grill
4.4
(489)Click for details

Life Alive Organic Cafe Lowell
4.5
(486)Click for details

Romeu & Juliett Cafe
4.4
(439)Click for details
Basic Info
Address
18 Shattuck St, Lowell, MA 01852
Map
Phone
(978) 452-4207
Call
Website
neqm.org
Visit
Reviews
Overview
4.6
(115 reviews)
Ratings & Description
cultural
accessibility
Description
The New England Quilt Museum, founded in 1987, is located in downtown Lowell, Massachusetts and is the only institute in the Northeastern United States solely dedicated to the art and craft of quilting. It is the second-oldest quilt museum in the United States.
attractions: Lowell National Historical Park Visitor Center, Market Basket, Four Sisters Owl Diner, UMass Lowell Inn & Conference Center, Lowell National Historical Park, Boott Cotton Mills Museum, Sophia's Greek Pantry North, Jack Kerouac Park, Abo AL-Ezz Halal Market, National Streetcar Museum at Lowell, restaurants: Cobblestones of Lowell, El Potro Mexican Bar & Grill, Life Alive Organic Cafe Lowell, Romeu & Juliett Cafe, Viet-Thai Restaurant, Rizzo's Roast Beef and Pizza, Gary's Restaurant and Bar, TreMonte Pizzeria Restaurant & Bar, Brew'd Awakening Coffeehaus, Tasty Dumplings
