Our Mission
The National Quilt Museum (NQM) collects and presents the finest work made by today’s quilters from America and around the world. The museum provides national-class cultural services to diverse communities, both near and far, through exhibitions, educational programs, support of artists, and tourism development.
Our Vision
The National Quilt Museum strives to be the best small museum in America. We are committed to the cultural and economic success of our service communities, and we display this commitment through the provision of high quality programming, efficiency of operation, and the formation of strategic partnerships.
Our History
The National Quilt Museum opened in Paducah in 1991. The museum was the vision of Bill and Meredith Schroeder, influential Paducah residents and founders of the American Quilters Society. The museum quickly attracted a national and international audience and became a powerful economic and cultural development engine for the Wester Kentucky region.
NQM has become a leader in the fiber arts field, with a growing collection of 673 quilts from across America and around the world. Through our first 30 years, NQM has attracted nearly one million visitors, curated more than 250 exhibitions, and served 90,000 students. While we are proud of our past, we are now squarely focused on building toward the future, growing new audiences, and playing an even bigger role in the success of our artists and our communities.
Our Community
The National Quilt Museum is located in Paducah, KY, a center of American quilting and one of only six UNESCO Creative Cities in the U.S. The local economy is driven by tourism and the largest port on the Ohio River. Regularly, giant river boats dock at Paducah, and their passengers spill into the city where they are greeted by the National Quilt Museum, famed Market House Square, and eclectic Lower Town Arts District. The museum is also a pilgrimage site for quilters and fiber artists from across the nation.
