Santa Rosa HomeAboutNews LetterLibraryCommunity QuiltsblogLinksContact UsDownload Forms
The Blog

The California Sesquicentennial Quilt

In May of 1996, the California Sesquicentennial Commission asked the California Heritage Quilt Project to create a special quilt to reflect California’s 58 counties through picture images.

Over the span of 15 months, a pictorial masterpiece was created by 67 quilt artists. Over the course of 8 months, more than 150 select quilters from Northern California spent  2,000 hours to create the 9’8″ by 10’2″ quilt.

Among the talented artists who worked on the quilt were many members of the Santa Rosa Quilt Guild: Katie Alix, Mitzi Dowling, Jeanette Hensley, Dorothy Ingham, Elizabeth Marrs, Judy Mathieson, Nancy Parmelee, Janet Shore, Lois Stephens, Marilyn Swanson, Lee Trevelyan and Dotty Zagar.

When the quilt was completed, it toured the state for two years and was seen by 4 million people.

To celebrate its permanent exhibit, The California Museum is dedicating its Signature Exhibit display.

On Sunday, May 18th, from 12 – 5 pm, the Museum is celebrating the quilt’s acquisition with a special program.

See the following attachments for a picture of the quilt and announcement of the California Museum program.

The California Sesquicentennial Quilt

Invitation to Recognition and Celebration Program

Leave a Reply