The National Quilt Museum — Attraction in Paducah

I consider Paducah my hometown because it is where my Mom was raised, where she came for respite during the late 80s when she divorced, and where I first attended public school & learned about quilters.

It was then, during our Prom season, that suddenly a plague of older ladies, many dour and demanding, filled all the nice restaurants and venues; flooded the quiet river front hotel known as the 'Executive Inn', and generally caused grief to our age group as all year, we had planned a 'big night' with our friends- to include dinner, possibly a hotel room, and most certainly, taking the weekend off!

I tell this story to explain to many who might not understand how something, even when it is wonderful, and will be later appreciated, is 100% more than one thing for the people who live in these places. 😏

After high school, it still perplexed me on why the show or the schools decided to maintain the events in perpetuity. It would seem to be counterproductive as, when I worked in community college, we were always short handed because both fell as they did.

These same people who grew up with the quilting show, those who live in and around the area, some are very much like me. They have grown to love and appreciate the art and beauty of it.

When you visit, it is amazing to see the variety of quilts on display. There are so many. They are truly lovely. There is nothing else like this and no better an example of creative needle art and thread expression. I appreciate the range and the styles. That there is a changing display to include many styles.

This is a wonderful way to spend an afternoon. To walk through. Look at the amazing detail. Read the information on each piece. Imagine the amount of time, work, and love each piece would take to complete. There isn't one that isn't breathtaking.

I'd dare anyone to see it and not be marveled by the amount of effort, time, and detail.

People who work here are lovely. They are helpful and kind. The facility is spotless, the water closets- fully stocked and tidy. Parking, ample.

I no longer live in the area and I have become a quilter. Often, I smile, recalling how very much 'we' disliked 'those old ladies'. 😏 I'm the old lady now, but I am much more patient and understanding with a certain age group. I really do get it.

When I come 'home', I visit this museum and I take time to savor each moment.

It is the best, presentation, variety, and style. I look forward to my next visit as it is very much like catching up with an old friend who knows me so well.

A great place to go by yourself, with a friend, or with your family- if they are of a certain age.

Brought my adult daughter and she appreciated it far more than she thought she would.

Have also interested my sister-in-law in the media though she is a ceramist, she is amazed by this medium now as well.

I am very pleased Paducah does such a wonderful job taking care of the artists...

When deciding to visit Paducah on a recent weekend my wife was doing some research into things to do. I was surprised to find not only that the National Quilt Museum was located there, but that there was a National Quilt Museum at all. My wife does a lot of quilting so the decision to go was easy.

The grounds of the National Quilt Museum are gorgeous and well kept. There's a large what I'm suddenly going to call a Grand Lawn with sidewalks and some statuary.

Ticket are $15, but they do offer military/veteran discounts as well as students and seniors.

The interior of the lobby is spacious with the check-in desk directly in front of you, gift shop to the left, restrooms to the right, and the entrance into the exhibit area dead ahead. By the restrooms you'll find the elusive wooden quilt. Yes, a wooden quilt. And it is bee-yoo-ti-ful.

Once in the main exhibit hall you're amongst probably close to 100 quilts. To be honest, I had no idea how many types of quilts there were, so this was an education for me.

The level of detail, craftsmanship, creativity, and ingenuity that went into some of these quilts is absolutely astounding. From a distance it may look like a photograph of, say, a tree, but when you get closer the details start to emerge. Some of them were absolutely awe-inspiring.

Our visit, in total, came out to a little over an hour. Wifey was in her element so I wasn't going to rush her as the looked at each quilt, admiring the time and effort each one took. There were a couple docents who walk around answering questions and insight, where possible.

Some of the quilts could be purchased...and I don't mean if you're on any kind of budget. One such quilt was sold for over $30,000. That's right and not a typo

The gift shop is well-sized to the museum. It's well lit and has A LOT of craft/quilt items, bobbles, and trinkets. Pricing was very reasonable.

I have to admit, I was surprise by this museum. I expected to be bored and wanted to get out, but I found myself interested...

I do love the craft of quilting, since is merges several of my major interests; geometry, folk art, history, and love. It was getting late in the day by the time we arrived in Paduka. We considered staying the night so we could go to explore the International Quilt Museum the following day. This place is sort of the Grand Ole Opry of quilting, the Olympics, and we had 50 minutes before it closed. I’m glad that we did not stay. I was really disappointed. OK lemme explain. A dozen or so of the quilts in the museum were most amazing and inspiring. I am always amazed that people make miniature quilts, I suppose to show off their ability to make incredibly tiny sewing projects. Or else they really do not have enough to do. There were geometries with color progressions, amazing multi-material squares, like fuzzy tails on squirrels. There was one photo-realistic quilt of a forested view, most amazing. I had never seen a quilt with ancient petroglyph images. I’ll have to check, these looked to be Anasazi hunting ritual images. It was fascinating. Some quilts were so beautiful that I am challenged to describe them. Things went downhill from there. In a “quilts of the pandemic” section, there were photo-realistic quilts portraying people hording tissue and outcries of anguish. Then there was an activist section with portrayals of guns and blood, quilts with squares of incarcerated people, themes of women’s rights, and voting. Who would ever put those quilts on a bed? “You-all sleep in this bed tonight, Honey Child, I made a special quilt with appliques of dead people.” I suppose that my disappointment is my personal problem. I see quilts as objects of love and comfort, while these museum curators see quilting as a medium for expression, protest, and angst. I didn’t use up all of my 50 minutes. I dunno if...