Maine Barn Quilt Trail!

Maine Barn Quilt Trail is a network of more than 70 barn quilts located in Franklin and Somerset Counties The quilt murals were curated by artist Saskia Reinholt and painted by over 600 children in North Franklin County under the guidance of teaching artists Saskia Reinholt and Natasha Bogar. Participating schools included the Stratton School, Phillips Elementary School, Kingfield Elementary School, Strong Elementary School, and Mount Abrams Regional High School. Rangeley Friends of the Arts after-school program and the New Vineyard Public Library participated by hosting community painting workshops. Students learned about the history of barn paintings, quilting, color theory, geometric design, cooperative painting, and were engaged in cultural discussions. The community barn quilt trail was made possible through grants and support from the Maine Community Foundation, Maine Arts Commission, The Betterment Fund, Sugarloaf Charitable Trust, Skowhegan Charitable Foundation, Franklin County TIF, Jordan Lumber, and local volunteers.

The Maine High Peaks Barn Quilt Trail is a community-made public art trail that enhances the Maine High Peaks Arts and Heritage Loop, celebrates rural traditions, encourages tourists to move through a rural landscape, and links into the national American Barn Quilt Trail. This collaborative community project was organized by the High Peaks Creative Council with the goal of furthering the visibility and reputation of the Maine High Peaks Region as an arts, cultural, and recreational destination.

What is a Barn Quilt?

Each barn quilt is a hand-painted mural. Often the geometric quilt design is carefully selected to reflect a locations heritage, culture, and sense of place. Most of the murals are displayed on historic barns and buildings. This project connects and celebrates two parts of American culture, agricultural barns and quilting.