When most people think of Nebraska, they may think of cows, corn, and football - but quilts? The International Quilt Museum in Lincoln is one of those places that not many people know about even though it's world-famous to those in the know as the world's largest collection of quilts. It's a hidden gem on UNL's campus that gives visitors a unique angle on history and art from around the world.

The International Quilt Museum contains the world's largest privately-held collection of quilts on the planet - more than 6,000 of them.

It was established in 1997 as The International Quilt Study Center. A generous gift of almost 1,000 quilts from Nebraskans Ardis and Robert James began what would become an internationally renowned treasure of textile arts.

In 2008, the center moved into a brand-new, state-of-the-art, 37,000-square-foot building.

The building itself is meant to represent a quilt. Its large glass windows are the quilt panels, the galleries behind them are the batting, and the offices at the very back represent the back of a quilt. In April 2009, the building was awarded a LEED Silver Rating for its environmental sustainability.

The building expanded in June 2015 to include an additional 13,000 square feet of exhibition space.

In 2019, the name was officially changed to the International Quilt Museum, representing a move toward making the collection more accessible as a tourist destination.

The museum's quilts represent fiber arts from more than 50 countries and spanning more than four centuries.

The quilt has held a unique position in the cultural fabric (if you'll pardon the pun) of populations around the world. It's a form of art, an expression of cultural beliefs, and a historical record documenting the lives and eras of quilters.

If quilts remind you of your grandma's stuffy attic, these exhibits will have you rethinking that connection.

You may be surprised at just how intricate and complex these works of art can be. They're far from just a way to keep warm in chilly weather - though we do still get the urge to curl up on the couch with some of these beauties.

They document what life was like in the age of every quiltmaker represented here.

The agricultural, personal, social, and geographical histories of every culture are represented in all types of fabric, woven together with thread and artistry.

Once you've seen the collection, it's impossible to deny that the quilt is an art form that is woefully underrated.

These intricate master works are just as skillfully created as works of paint or marble. But quilts are unique in that they are often a social art, prompting quilters to get together for "quilting bees" to chat while working on their projects.

Who would have thought that the humble quilt could unite unique cultures around the globe? Visit the International Quilt Museum's website to find out how you can visit or support the museum through a monetary gift. The museum's Facebook page provides information about permanent and temporary displays as well as educational and social events taking place in the building.

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