International Quilt Museum

International Quilt Museum The International Quilt Museum's mission is to build a global collection and audience that celebrate Visit our website for more information to plan your visit.

The International Quilt Museum at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln is the world's largest collection of publicly held quilts dating from the early 1600s to present, the quilts represent more than 65 countries. Rotating exhibitions display gems from the collection and traveling exhibits. The museum's mission is to build a global collection and audience that celebrate the cultural and artistic sig

nificance of quilts

The IQM is located at 33rd and Holdrege streets on the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's East Campus. Diversity and inclusion are central to the University’s and the IQM’s mission and pursuit of excellence. Each person has something to gain from and offer to our community of learning, discovery, and outreach. All are welcome here.

This is the final week to see “That’s So McTavish: The Art of Machine Quilting” at the IQM! Stop by and see this stunnin...
06/02/2026

This is the final week to see “That’s So McTavish: The Art of Machine Quilting” at the IQM! Stop by and see this stunning exhibit before it closes in June 6.

Karen McTavish began working as a longarm quilter in 1997, a time when machine quilting was just beginning to be recognized as an alternative to time-consuming hand quilting. Almost three decades later, her unique machine quilting technique — known as McTavishing — creates a continuous, dense background design adding texture and motion to quilts. It is a popular option for the many customers at McTavish’s Minnesota studio.

This exhibit highlights the stylistic impact of McTavish’s quilting technique on quilts made by contemporary artists and by McTavish.

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📆Join us during our opening hours from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday.

📍The International Quilt Museum is located at 1523 N. 33rd Street in Lincoln, Nebraska.

🎟️General admission is $10 for adults, $6 for seniors, and $4 dollars for children between the ages of five and 18 years old. Children under the age of five get in free. UNL staff, students and faculty can access the museum for free with their NCard.

On June 19 at 5 p.m., join the International Quilt Museum for a presentation from educator, coach and author Kwame Gyamf...
06/01/2026

On June 19 at 5 p.m., join the International Quilt Museum for a presentation from educator, coach and author Kwame Gyamfi! Learn about Gyamfi’s education and coaching career, his life experiences, his involvement with the Malone Community Center, and his perspectives on Juneteenth.

After the presentation, we will be joined in the galleries by artist Celeste Butler who will talk about her quilt "Ancestors" that will be on display as part of "Material Nation: 250 Years of American Quiltmaking."

This event is not to be missed and free to all! Learn more about the program and guest speakers at go.unl.edu/bjpq

Join us on June 5 for an exciting First Friday with textile artist Cora Nimtz at the International Quilt Museum! Nimtz w...
05/28/2026

Join us on June 5 for an exciting First Friday with textile artist Cora Nimtz at the International Quilt Museum!

Nimtz will give a gallery talk of the exhibition “REMNANT: Works by Cora Nimtz” that’s been on display at the IQM since February.

This exhibition highlights recent works from Nimtz, a third-generation quiltmaker from the American South, drawing on inherited patterns and techniques. Nimtz works within traditional quiltmaking to explore themes of memory, repair and renewal.

Using found and salvaged fabrics, she continues a lineage grounded in labor and resourcefulness, allowing each material to retain traces of its prior life. Her use of thread painting builds on earlier pictorial quilt traditions, merging representational imagery with established block designs.

This exhibition is only on display through June 11, so don’t miss your chance to see Nimtz’ incredible work in-person!

Remember, First Fridays are from 4 – 7 p.m. and are free to all! The gallery talk will begin at 5:30 p.m.

Today is Give to Lincoln Day!Support the conservation of the IQM's collection during this year’s Give to Lincoln Day cam...
05/28/2026

Today is Give to Lincoln Day!

Support the conservation of the IQM's collection during this year’s Give to Lincoln Day campaign through the Friends of the International Quilt Museum. If the history and artistry of quiltmaking is valuable to you, help us care for our collection and share it with the world! Your support helps fund education programs, new exhibitions and future public programing at the museum.

Visit go.unl.edu/gtld to learn more and support the Friends of the IQM!

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What is Give to Lincoln Day? It is an annual day of giving when the Lincoln community comes together to support organizations that benefit the city. This year, every donation between now and May 28 will receive a proportional share of a $650,000 match fund made possible by the Lincoln Community Foundation and many generous sponsors.

We've decided to open the IQM’s Book and Fabric Sale early! Now through June 6 museumgoers can explore a selection of fa...
05/26/2026

We've decided to open the IQM’s Book and Fabric Sale early! Now through June 6 museumgoers can explore a selection of fabrics, feed sacks, books, magazines and more. Get a complementary tote bag with your purchase, too!

🗺: IQM 1523 N. 33rd Street Lincoln, Ne
📆: Now through June 6 from during regular business hours 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. | Extended hours on June 5 for First Friday.
📣:This sale does not include the IQM Store or books priced for sale in the third floor reading room.

Wishing you a happy and safe Memorial Day! Here we have two special quilts comprised of over 500 U.S. Navy patches. Both...
05/25/2026

Wishing you a happy and safe Memorial Day! Here we have two special quilts comprised of over 500 U.S. Navy patches. Both quilts came to the museum as part of the Sue Reich Collection in 2021.

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🖼1:
Navy Insignia Quilt
Maker Unidentified
Made in the United States; Circa 1942
Cotton
IQM 2021.108.0014

🖼2:
Navy Insignia Quilt
Maker Unidentified
Made in the United States; Circa 1944
Cotton
IQM 2021.108.0081

Give to Lincoln Day is almost here! Support the Friends of the International Quilt Museum and the conservation of the IQ...
05/25/2026

Give to Lincoln Day is almost here!

Support the Friends of the International Quilt Museum and the conservation of the IQM's collection during this year’s Give to Lincoln Day on May 28. Your support also helps fund education programs, new exhibitions and future public programing at the museum.

What is Give to Lincoln Day? It is an annual day of giving when the Lincoln community comes together to support organizations that benefit the city. This year, every donation between now and May 28 will receive a proportional share of a $650,000 match fund made possible by the Lincoln Community Foundation and many generous sponsors.

Visit go.unl.edu/gtld to donate today!

For May's Quilt of the Month, we are sharing this lovely St. Louis Star variation from Ernest Haight. This quilt feature...
05/20/2026

For May's Quilt of the Month, we are sharing this lovely St. Louis Star variation from Ernest Haight. This quilt features features 20 red and blue stars made possible through a series of eight-sided blocks. Haight was known for his complex, geometric designs that he created over the course of 50 years.

A David City, Nebraska, native, Haight began quilting in 1934. He graduated from the University of Nebraska with a degree in agricultural engineering — a program that required him to take courses in drawing and design geometry that later informed his quilts. Though he initially kept his quilting secret, he later embraced quiltmaking publicly entering many quilts in state and county fairs, and giving many away as gifts. Over this five-decade quiltmaking career he made more than 300 quilts.

This piece was last shown as part of the 2014 exhibition "Quilts of Emotion" that explored the range of emotions found in quilts. Haight immersed himself in quiltmaking even through periods of personal turmoil. From his eldest son, Aubrey: “He’d unwind, he'd come home after chores and milking cows; that's how he'd relax. He'd sit there at the sewing machine for a while and then go to bed. He didn't do it from necessity..., but he was artistic…, and he liked to do it.”

In 1986, Haight was inducted into the Nebraska Quilter's Hall of Fame.

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Star of St. Louis
Ernest B. Haight
Made in David City, Nebraska; Dated 1972
Cotton
IQM 2014.075.0004

It’s been incredible meeting some of the quilting community surrounding Karen McTavish and her work over the past few mo...
05/14/2026

It’s been incredible meeting some of the quilting community surrounding Karen McTavish and her work over the past few months!

Pictures 1- 2: We were able to host Leslie Hughes (who has two quilts in the exhibition), Lucy Mallory, Carmel Grimm and Terry Kolander who made the trip from Minnesota to see their friend’s installation at the IQM. The crew also brought along a cutout of McTavish, who was unable to join them for the road trip, for some gallery exploration and a behind-the-scenes tour.

Pictures 3-4: Quiltmaker Terri White stopped by to see two of her pieces in the exhibition.

Pictures 5-6: IQM member and quiltmaker Kara Sheil showed off her McTavish merch during National Quilting Day.

“That’s So McTavish: The Art of Machine Quilting” is on display in the Von Seggern Gallery through June 6. Don’t miss your opportunity to see this exhibition! And for those unable to join us in person, visit go.unl.edu/nowshowing for a virtual tour.

Give to Lincoln Day approaches! If you love the art and history of quiltmaking, support the Friends of the International...
05/12/2026

Give to Lincoln Day approaches!

If you love the art and history of quiltmaking, support the Friends of the International Quilt Museum during this year’s Give to Lincoln Day on May 28. Your support helps fund education programs, new exhibitions and future public programing at the museum.

What is Give to Lincoln Day? It is an annual day of giving when the Lincoln community comes together to support organizations that benefit the city. This year, every donation between now and May 28 will receive a proportional share of a $650,000 match fund made possible by the Lincoln Community Foundation and many generous sponsors.

Learn more and support the Friends of the IQM today by visiting go.unl.edu/gtld.

Address

1523 N 33rd Street
Lincoln, NE
68503

Opening Hours

Tuesday 10am - 4pm
Wednesday 10am - 4pm
Thursday 10am - 4pm
Friday 10am - 4pm
Saturday 10am - 4pm

Telephone

+14024726549

Website

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