Sometimes quilts are offered to the Museum which, while not appropriate for our Permanent Collection, may be excellent examples of quilting techniques or represent specific periods in quilmaking history. The museum my choose to acquire these pieces for the Education Collection. In contrast to quilts in our Permanent Collection, these pieces may travel outside the museum to be used as educational tools where handling and close inspection are permitted.

When the Museum opened its doors in 1990, Eugenia Mitchell's gift of 100 quilts from her private collection created the foundation of RMQM's permanent collection. Since that time, our collections have grown to include over 350 quilts and related items, which are housed under professionally accepted museum standard conditions. The quilts range from historic and traditional bed quilts to contemporary art quilts. Most of the quilts in the collections have been acquired by donation. Only a few very special pieces have been purchased.

Freedom Quilt
The Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum acquired the "Freedom Quilt," (75" x 86-1/2") made by Japanese students to honor the victims of September 11th. The commemorative quilt toured the United States for two years before the Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum was chosen as the quilt's permanent home.