A Brief History

The Wisconsin Museum of Quilts & Fiber Arts, Inc.

• The founding organization began in 1988 as the Wisconsin Quilt History Project, Inc., (WQHP) whose mission was to preserve the history and creativity expressed in quilts through documentation and research.
• Between 1988 and 1996, over 7,000 Wisconsin quilts and their stories were captured on paper and in photographs. These records provided the basis for an award-winning book Wisconsin Quilts: Histories in the Stitches, published in 2001 and authored by Wisconsin poet laureate, Ellen Kort. Over 5,000 copies have been sold and the book is in its second printing.
• In 1998, WQHP coordinated quilt exhibitions at the Milwaukee Art Museum, the Pabst Mansion and the Kneeland Walker house featuring 120 of the documented quilts.

• July 2001 marked the purchase of the Hoffmann-Boeker property, selected as the future site of the WMQFA. It is a 2.2 acre farm with the original barn and outbuildings still intact and suitable for viewing and use. The vision was to refurbish and repurpose the barn for commercial use as a museum and education center for quilting, quilts and other fiber arts studies and viewing.
• In 2002, WQHP commissioned an historic structure report, documenting the history of the property, the present condition of the farm and recommendations for preservation of the structures. This was done in support of seeking a Local Landmark Site designation recommendation from the Cedarburg Landmarks Commission. It was granted in 2004.
• In 2010, over $1.0 million had been raised and the architectural plans went out to bid. They came in at a total project cost of $1.3 Million. A final capital campaign “push” ensued resulting in significant participation from many Cedarburg community organizations, the Greater Milwaukee Foundation and individual patrons.
• On August 30, 2010, ground was broken and construction of the museum began.
• On August 11, 2011, a ribbon cutting celebration will mark the official opening of the Wisconsin Museum of Quilts & Fiber Arts!