Sierra Valley Barn Quilt Project
Barn quilts honor the economic, cultural, and historical contribution of ranching and farming to our rural communities, while celebrating one of America’s historic art forms, the quilt block. Barn quilts become local landmarks helping to preserve our rural heritage and provide points of interest for visitors and sightseers. They contribute to local economies by incorporating art, agriculture, and local culture with an effort to promote tourism on the local, state, and national level. In the Sierra Valley, Barn quilts enhance local events like the Tour de Manure bicycle tour, creating destination points along the cycling route and, since 2016, the annual Sierra Valley Art+Ag Trail event. The Sierra Valley Barn Quilt Project is centered in the Sierra Valley, which includes eastern Sierra County and portions of Plumas County. The Sierra County Arts Council received a grant from the California Arts Council to support rural and under-served communities through grant opportunities for small arts organizations. Dedicated community volunteers worked countless hours painting the barn quilts while other volunteers helped ranchers hang the finished quilts on local barns. Shown here is the “Sandhill Cranes” barn quilt on the Lost Marbles Ranch barn on Marble Hot Springs Rd. in Beckwourth.
Sierra Valley Barn Quilt Trail Map
