Exhibitions - Current Exhibitions

Lancaster County Amish Quilts

Featuring the premier group of quilts formerly known as the Esprit Collection, the museum's permanent exhibit seeks to tell the story of the Amish and their quilt making. Exhibited items extend beyond quilts to envelop Amish-made clothing and decorative household items, as well as related textiles from other communities.

The permanent exhibit now features a variety of interactive experiences. Visitors will feel the fabric used by quilters and apply new knowledge to the task of identifying a Lancaster County Amish quilt. Visitors also will be able to test their knowledge of Amish culture through an interactive kiosk designed to correct common misconceptions about the Amish.

There are 82 quilts in the former Esprit collection. These quilts will be rotated through the exhibition in 6 month cycles.

Rainbow Yarn: Navajo Weavings, Germantown Yarns and the Pennsylvania Connection

March 27-December 31, 2009

The Heritage Center of Lancaster County is pleased to announce a Navajo weaving exhibition at the Lancaster Quilt and Textile Museum.  This exhibition is truly one-of-a-kind, bringing together rare examples of Navajo weavings from private collections and museums across the country.

This exciting exhibition, guest curated by nationally recognized scholar and dealer Brant Mackley, focuses on the history and influence of the wool yarn produced in the Germantown section of Philadelphia upon Navajo weavings. Featuring more than 40 weavings and a host of other objects including comparative materials, the exhibition will chronicle how these brilliantly- colored, tightly-bound Germantown yarns were introduced by traders to Navajo weavers in the American southwest.

The catalog, Rainbow Yarn: Navajo Weavings, Germantown Yarns & the Pennsylvania Connection, is available for purchase from our Museum Store. The catalog was written by Tyrone D. Campbell, Brant Mackley (also Guest Curator and Editor) and Andree Mey Miller, with textile photographs by William Bishop. 

  The National Christmas Center Presents a Lancaster Christmas

  March 27, 2009 - December 31, 2009

With a vision of what Christmas in downtown Lancaster was like in past eras, nationally-known Christmas historian and founder of the National Christmas Center, Jim Morrison, is preparing a major exhibition of old-fashioned Christmas.  Visitors will see recreations of Christmas celebrations from the 1850s through the 1970s.  A special area of the exhibit will pay tribute to Frank W. Woolworth, whose national chain of five and dime stores had its origins in the city of Lancaster. 

Learn about Exhibitions Coming Soon.

Check out our Events Calendar for the latest information on what's happening at the museum or Sign our Guestbook to receive updates by E-mail.
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