Tuesday, May 31, 2016

Iowa Quilt Museum

The Iowa Quilt Museum is now open.

Website: HERE
Facebook Page: Iowa Quilt Museum  HERE


Located on the historic town square in Winterset Iowa, The museum is dedicated to the art and traditions of the American quilt.


Winterset, Iowa is the birthplace of legendary screen actor John Wayne and the county seat of The Bridges of Madison County.  Why not take a bridge tour when visiting?  Winterset's unique downtown area was declared a National Historic District in early 2016.









The former JC Penney building has been restored.

The attention to detail is impressive.

This is area inside the front door, before opening.

The shopping area is stocked with beautiful quilt related gifts.
Including jewelry from Iowa quilter and artist Julie! HERE.









The first exhibit is, "Three Centuries of Red and White Quilts", curated by quilt collector and historian Virginia Berger.

So much to see in this photo!

After you take in the quilts, check out the ceiling.

What about the wonderful wall color?

The hardwood floors!

The display cases....












There are a few display cases in the gallery.

This example is filled with quilts.

Between the display cases and the wall are a row of chairs.

We all appreciate a place to sit when admiring the quilts.







The arrangement of the partial walls allow for more exhibit space and create vignettes for the quilts.

Exhibit quilts include loans from private parties as well as loans other museums and historical societies.

Admission is $6 - what a bargain!

I hope you have a chance to visit this new museum.

Why not make it a road trip?
IQSC in Lincoln - 180 Miles to Winterset Iowa
From Winterset to Kalona, Iowa is 150 miles.
Kalona Quilt & Textile Museum HERE.
(Not including quilt shops along the way...)

UPDATE: News story with video tour HERE

Have a great week,
Dawn
PS
Do you have an Iowa connection?
I was born and raised there - and yes, in my youth  I detasseled corn...


41 comments:

  1. Not including quilt shops - lol! It looks beautiful and peaceful. A lovely place to display quilts and the red and white look wonderful.

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  2. Oh how wonderful. Wish I lived closer. I love your medallion quilt. Hmmm, maybe the next pattern? Thanks for sharing.

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  3. That looks fabulous! Both the museum and the quilts. How wonderful to see a new quilt museum and what a great choice for an opening exhibition. I wish I could visit, wonderful!

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    1. We can take the road trip,when you visit. Start at RMQM and head east...

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    2. Now there's an idea! Sounds like a great plan!

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  4. Thanks so much for sharing this. I'm working on their second order of jewelry now! I can't wait to get over there and see it and I for sure do not want to miss the red & white exhibit.

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  5. This museum really looks wonderful, and what an amazing exhibition it is, with this beautiful red-and-white quilts, that are displayed so lovely. Wish I could visit one day...

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  6. Thanks so much for a great post about the museum and for lending one of the quilts on display!

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  7. Dawn gracias por compartir esta maravilla!!!
    siento estar tan lejos,
    disfrutare mirando tus fotos
    saludos

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  8. Tomorrow starts the All Iowa Shop Hop (we have more quilt shops than any other state) Row by Row starts later in the month and we have this amazing museum in such beautiful green landscape. What other reasons do you need to visit Iowa?

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    1. Fun road trip - thanks for sharing!
      You are a no-reply Blogger so I answered here.

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  9. You make it sound so inviting. How long is the red and white exhibition on for?

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    1. The Red and White quilts will be up until late Sept. There will be an exhibit of Star quilts up by the American Quilter's Society Show in Oct.

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  10. I wish I had an Iowa connection--then maybe there would be a chance for me to see that lovely museum. It looks very well thought out!

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  11. How many miles from philly? Road trip😎

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  12. What a beautiful museum with lots of display opportunities. The building itself is lovely. Hard to picture you detasseling corn!

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    1. ha ha - I was very good at de-tasseling, being tall!

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  13. Three years ago we drove a new Motorhome from the factoren in IL to LV, NV. We made a stop in Winterset for the covered bridge from one of my all time favorite movies, the birth home of John Wayne and of course the quiltshop of Fons and Porter. I see there is a reason to go back! Beautiful museum!

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  14. Beautiful! And you kind of look like a corn tassel-er!! :)

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  15. Definately on my list of day trips. I also was born in Iowa but never deltassled corn but my daughter did one summer when she was 13. I had to drive her everyday to the bus pickup spot at " O dark thirty" does that count?

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  16. Born and raised and still living in Iowa - which means Beautiful Land. It is especially beautiful this time of year so I hope to soon make my first visit to the new museum. Nice review Dawn.

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  17. It looks like a lovely facility. Wish it were a bit closer though.

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  18. Oh, my...worth a trip it looks like. My husband is from Ames Iowa...roadtrip!!

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  19. Such a beautiful new Museum!
    I love the special exhibit there as well, all the quilts are Stunning.
    Thanks for sharing all the wonderful inspiration.

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  20. What a wonderful space to exhibit beautiful quilts.

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  21. They sure did a fabulous job when creating this new museum - and a gorgeous red and white collection to start with! Thank you for taking us along - have not been to Winterset over 20 years - definitely overdue!

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  22. It looks like a fabulous museum! Thanks for showing it off!

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  23. Looks like a wonderful place to visit! Beautiful venue - I'm sure a lot of thought and hard work went into it. Were you involved in making it happen?

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    1. I was not Maureen. The board and volunteers who made this happen have my admiration!! As do the people who are doing the day to day operations.

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  24. what a great museum space. I love Iowa too. Hope I can visit one day.

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  25. I've only lived 4 months outside of Iowa. And yes, I detasseled, but only once. I was in college and needed a summer job, but had summer classes. Worst work experience ever - I had no idea what I was getting myself into there. I got sunburned so bad and no way to get out of it. I would never recommend it to anyone and would never let my kids do it. So excited about the quilt museum, can't wait to see it.

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    1. It is very hard work, and am glad to say I was able to do a couple seasons. It makes me appreciate hard physical labor - in sun and humidity!
      Enjoy the museum!

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  26. I knew I could never get my husband to agree to a road trip for a quilt museum, but when I included the John Wayne museum as well as the Hoover presidential library!!! Our plans are made, reservations scheduled and will be on the road very soon!!

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    1. Great news! Enjoy your trip, let us know how it goes.

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  27. I am in the Des Moines area, 30 minutes from Winterset. Sure wish we could have met! Would have been wonderful! Hopefully sometime in the future!

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Thanks for your comments!