Area folks who have driven or biked along country roads and spotted a beautiful barn with a brightly painted quilt block on it have discovered part of the Vicksburg Quilt Trail.
Barn quilt trails around the country are often organized by a historical society, art council or quilt group to attract tourists to the area. This phenomenon began in 2001 in southern Ohio with one painted quilt block on a family barn to honor a quilting mother. Many of the patterns are symbolic with deeper historic and personal meaning. Thousands of barns later, in every state and Canada, the trend continues.
Hugh and Kitch Rinehart began creating a barn quilt trail in 2012 for the Vicksburg Historical Society. The trail has grown to 24 barns and historic buildings on a 45-mile loop. From 1-2 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 18, the Rineharts will explain the process of creating a barn quilt, then show photos of the barns at the Vicksburg District Library, 215 S. Michigan Ave.
Walk-ins are welcome; there is no admission fee. The presentation will be simultaneously broadcast as a Zoom meeting. Preregistration is required; see www.fallbikecelebration.org/schedule for details.