Wisconsin Museum of Quilts and Fiber Arts

Mission:

The Wisconsin Museum of Quilts & Fiber Arts, located just east of historic downtown Cedarburg, Wisconsin, is dedicated to educating the public about the artistic, cultural, historic and social importance of quilts and fiber arts. We also seek to increase the awareness of historic structure preservation. Our repurposed1850s farmstead is used to:

Foster and inspire creativity by hosting exhibits of artists from traditional to contemporary techniques;

Educate children and adults, from beginners to experienced fiber artists, in the time-honored crafts;

Preserve quilts and other fiber arts items, maintaining our own collection and encouraging others to document their treasures.

Maintain a library for researchers interested in exploring how quilts and other fiber arts have changed over time.

History:

The museum’s roots extend back to 1988 when a group of quilters in southeastern Wisconsin founded the Wisconsin Quilt History Project, Inc., whose mission was to preserve the history and creativity expressed in quilts through documentation and research. Since 1988, over 8,000 quilts and their stories have been captured. These records provided the material for an award-winning book, Wisconsin Quilts: History in the Stitches, (second edition, 2009).

In 2001, the group purchased the Hoffmann-Boeker farmstead as the future home of a museum dedicated to creating, preserving and teaching fiber arts. The 2.2 acre farm includes seven original stone and timber structures; the dairy barn with silo, farmhouse, ice house and summer kitchen/smokehouse/blacksmithery.

The WMQFA has since refurbished the barn for use as a gallery and education center, opening in August 2011. The site received Landmarks Designation from the City of Cedarburg in 2004.