Virginia Quilt Museumj

ABOUT THE MUSEUM
The Virginia Quilt Museum is located in Harrisonburg, 130 miles west of Washington, DC. It was founded in 1995 and designated the Official Quilt Museum of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Nestled in the picturesque Shenandoah Valley, the museum is dedicated to preserving, celebrating, and nurturing Virginia's quilting heritage. Three floors of exhibits feature a rotation of quilts from a permanent collection of nearly 300, along with traveling exhibitions from across the United States. The beautiful antebellum Warren-Sipe House, donated to the museum by the city of Harrisonburg, serves as its home and offers a distinctive backdrop for the showcased themes.

About the Warren Sipe House
Built in 1856, the historic Warren-Sipe House was first owned by Edward T. Harrison Warren, a direct descendant of Thomas Harrison, founding father of Harrisonburg. Warren, a prominent local lawyer, went on to serve in the Civil War with the 10th Virginia, ultimately dying at the Battle of the Wilderness in May of 1864.

Through the years, the house has served several prominent functions, perhaps most famously, as a Civil War Hospital for local Shenandoah Valley boys following the Battle of Gettysburg. It was during this time that Stonewall Jackson’s “Boy Major”, Joseph Latimer, died at the house of gangrene.

George Sipe took ownership of the house in the 1890s and added a number of the house’s present day features.

During the 20th Century, the house transitioned from a private residence to a municipal building, serving a number of functions for the City of Harrisonburg. The city even used the house to hold court during the early 1990s when the city courthouse was being renovated. A holding cell still remains visible in the Museum as a testament to this use. Today the Warren Sipe House is home to the Virginia Quilt Museum and its three floors of rotating quilt exhibits.

The Museum Shop is a unique experience where a variety of artwork by Shenandoah Valley and other Virginia artists may be found. The Museum Shop also has a wide array of special items for quilters and non-quilters alike. Visiting the Museum Shop is free and a delightful place to shop for gifts for any occasion.

Name another quilt museum that has a jail – The Virginia Quilt Museum has a jail cell in its lowest level. In 1993, the house was used as temporary quarters for the Circuit Court of Rockingham County while the court building was being renovated. To accommodate court proceedings, a jail holding cell was built. When the museum took possession of the house in 1995, the jail was left intact!

PERMANENT COLLECTIONS

Antique and Toy Sewing Machines
Full-sized and toy sewing machines are featured in this collection, including original models from Wilcox and Gibbs, Singer, and Howe.