The History of the Kentucky Quilt Trail

There is a quality about quilts that evokes a feeling of comfort of home and family. Quilting is a tradition that thrives in Kentucky.  The Quilt Trail project began in Adams County, Ohio, when Donna Sue Groves, a field representative for the Ohio Arts Council, decided that she wanted a quilt square painted on her barn to honor her mother, a life long quilter. Donna Sue shared her idea with friends in the community, who offered their help. They decided that if they were going to paint one quilt square on a barn, they might as well paint twenty and create a driving tour to attract tourists to their rural community. The project was such a success that word of it traveled quickly, and soon other communities were contacting Donna Sue asking if they could join in the project. Donna Sue offered her enthusiastic support.

The Quilt Trail project has taken deep root in Kentucky and spread quickly. The first square in Kentucky was painted and hung in Carter County by local volunteers with support from the Gateway Resource Conservation and Development Council. The project has spread as a grassroots movement with each community introducing its own twist, painting quilt squares not only on barns, but also on floodwalls, craft shops and restaurants. 

The quilts of  Taylor County are painted by members of the community, including students from Taylor County High School.  These quilts honor our wonderful heritage of family, farming and, of course, quilting.

The Virginia Pike Quilt : 685 Smith Ridge Road Campbellsville Ky 42718	The Wedding Ring Quilt: 4719 Campbellsville Road Campbellsville Ky 42718
The Home Cooking Quilt: 4830 New Columbia Road Campbellsville Ky 42716	The Blazing Star Quilt: 1402 Smith Ridge Road Campbellsville, Ky 42718
The Delectable Mountains Quilt: 2534 Elkhorn Road Campbellsville, Ky 42718	The Diamonds are Forever Quilt: 7839 Liberty Road Campbellsville, Ky 42718
The Wagon Wheel Quilt: 373 Old Greensburg Road Campbellsville, Ky 42718	The Cathedral Windows Quilt: 2979 Old Columbia Road Campbellsville, Ky 42718
The Fan Quilt: Highway 55 at Blue Hole Road Campbellsville, Ky 42718	The Wild Goose Chase Quilt: 9988 New Columbia Road Campbellsville, Ky 42718
The Windmill Quilt: Homeplace on Green River, Tebbs Bend Road Campbellsville, Ky 42718	The Tobacco Leaf Quilt: 8320 Hodgensville Road Campbellsville, Ky 42718

View Barn Quilts in a larger map