National Quilt Museum

Founded in 1991, the National Quilt Museum celebrates the sometimes underappreciated art form. The exhibits explore both nontraditional and traditional methods of quilting. There are miniature quilts, heritage quilts, and art inspired by quilting on each floor. Top fiber artists and quilting experts are represented. With three galleries, many of the items on display are rotated 8-10 times annually so there’s usually something new to discover. The museum also focuses on education, and offers workshops for all levels and youth camps.

• The museum is wheelchair- accessible, with wheelchairs and walkers available for use.

• It takes about 1-1.5 hours to explore the museum.

• Paducah is known as “Quilt City USA” and is often one of the stops on American Queen’s steamboat itineraries along the Cumberland and Tennessee Rivers.

Located in downtown Paducah in Kentucky’s western wetlands area, along the Ohio River, the National Quilt Museum is best reached by car. It’s a 2.5-hour drive from Nashville via I-24 W, almost 3 hours from St. Louis, and 2 hours from Evansville, Illinois. The closest major airport is Nashville International Airport.

The museum is open Monday through Saturday, from mid-morning until late afternoon, and Sunday from lunchtime until late afternoon. It’s closed on Easter Sunday, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve, and New Year’s Day, and during the first week of January for maintenance. Visit in September for Paducah's annual Barbecue On the River Festival to get a taste of western Kentucky.

In addition to being recognized as a destination for quilters and fiber artists, Paducah, a UNESCO Creative City, boasts an historic downtown with 19th-century architecture; the "Wall to Wall" Floodwall Murals, which are 50 panoramic murals that overlook the confluence of the Ohio and Tennessee Rivers; and the Lloyd Tilghman House & Civil War Museum, where you can learn about the history of western Kentucky's role in the war.