The Upper Cumberland Quilt Trail is part of the continuing commitment of the Upper Cumberland Quilt Festival to the preservation of this historical craft of traditional quilting. 

An annual event, The Upper Cumberland Quilt Festival is a cultural event in Algood and the Upper Cumberland region and a major fundraiser for the Algood Senior Center.  The Festival showcases the quilt treasures of the region with a mission of “Preserving the art and heritage of quilting and related arts, showcase quilts and needle arts, and providing education and a meeting place of experts in the related fields.”

We would like to invite you to drive along the Upper Cumberland Quilt Trail and enjoy the beautiful countryside of Putnam County, Tennessee.  The Trail is a very scenic driving tour of approximately 11 miles, which can take two hours at a leisurely pace.

Follow the map and see the beautiful and historic barns, owned by local farm families, that have quilt patterns painted on 8’ x 8’ wood squares. The blocks are replicas of treasured family quilts made by local women. In painting their favorite patterns on barns, we are honoring our local quilters, who are well known for their skills of using every piece of scrap fabric to create a beautiful work of art that is also a useful item in the home.

For your convenience, there are signs to guide you from barn to barn, and at each site, you will find information about the quilt pattern, the quilter, the artist, and the barn/farm.  Along the way are some of the local fabric shops, country stores, antiques shops, galleries, and historical places. Stop, and have dinner at the many quaint “eateries” and enjoy some local flavor.

There are many established and famous Quilt Trails throughout the country with a large selection of painted barns.  Our Quilt Trail is only in its beginning stages but we are growing as more counties in the Upper Cumberland region are joining us.

Safety & Respecting Private Property

Please be careful and cautious when driving our Quilt Trail.  The Trail is located on country Public roads and appropriate safety measures should be taken when stopping.  All sites are located on Private Property.  Please view the sites from the Public Road.

We are indebted to our Farm Hosts and appreciate their generosity and respect their privacy.
 

Please give us your comments and suggestions:

We Have Many to Thank for Making this Possible…we say Thanks to:

The farm and barn owners for giving us permission to hang the painting on their properties. We are especially grateful to our Quilters and  their families for allowing us to use their treasured quilts and patterns.

Our artists, Julie Styer and Sandra Darrow, of the Upper Cumberland Arts 
Alliance, who spent many hours designing and painting.
 

Ron Sweeney, for painting the Star of Bethlehem and hanging all of the paintings.

 

Bill Herren for painting our first barn on Dry Valley Road
 

The Algood School children and their teacher Wren Van Hooser, and

Sandra Darrow & 8th grade students at Cornerstone Middle School in Baxter & Janis Nunnally.