American Barn Quilts

A barn quilt is a painted piece of wood or composite material that represents a single quilted block and is hung on the exterior of a barn, house, garage, etc. Traditional quilt patterns can be used, while other designs represent nature or industry. Barns have been a format for decoration for centuries. European immigrants brought hex signs to America in the 17th Century. Those circular signs featured six-pointed stars, birds, grains, hearts and flowers. Two schools of thought exist on their meaning, with some historians believing immigrants to America subscribed to the belief that the hex signs offered protection, and others say they were simply meant for decorative purposes. Barn builders eventually began incorporating decorations into their barns, and as paint become more available, residents added their own touches. Barns even became canvases for advertisements. 

Modern American barn quilts and barn quilt trails became popular in the early 2000s after Donna Sue Groves of Ohio wanted to honor her mother, a quilter, by painting a quilt square and hanging it on her barn. According to a 2012 story in The Seattle Times, the project never came to fruition until she went to work for the Ohio Arts Council. After seeing the success communities were having with murals, Groves helped launch a barn quilt trail in Adams County, Ohio. It inspired others in the region, and the trend exploded to other states and into Canada.