Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum | Golden, Colorado

Museum History

The History of the Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum
The Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum was the dream of long-time Golden resident Eugenia Mitchell. She wanted her collection to be both seen by the public and preserved for the future. In 1981, a group of like-minded people came together, drew up bylaws, incorporated as a museum, and began fund raising for a site. In 1990, her dream became a reality with the opening of the Museum at its present location in downtown Golden, Colorado and Eugenia's gift of 100 quilts from her private collection.

In 1991, the museum received its first grant from the Jefferson County SCFD. Using all volunteer labor and funds from this grant, a museum quality storage system was installed. The Museum has grown steadily since its opening in one room containing the exhibit, the gift shop and storage. We now have two galleries, a wonderful gift shop, offices, collections room, education room, research library and storage space.

About our Founder
Eugenia Mitchell was born in Brazil in 1903 where her parents, John and Theodora Mueller Hartmeister, were missionaries of the Lutheran Church. Upon their return to the States, Eugenia grew up as a "tom boy" in Storm Lake, Iowa. At that time she preferred climbing trees to quilting, but Eugenia's interest grew as her mother made quilts for the family.

Over the years, Eugenia became more involved with quilting, and she began purchasing quilts and quilt tops in second-hand and antique stores. With a great spirit of individualism, Eugenia was not bound by traditional values and very much did her own thing. She was an expert at making do with what was available, and doing so very creatively. As she approached the age of 80, she decided that her quilts should be preserved for and seen by the public—a museum was needed. Eugenia worked for nine years holding trunk shows, giving lectures, teaching classes and talking to whomever would listen in order to acquire enough money and support to start a quilt museum. The Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum (originally called the National Quilt Museum) opened to the public in 1990 in downtown Golden. The donation of 100 of Eugenia’s quilts provided the foundation for the quilt museum’s permanent collection. For the first year, it was the display of those quilts that made up the exhibits, and Eugenia was there to greet visitors and tell them about her quilts.

Eugenia remained active well into her 90s, until Alzheimer’s forced her to move to a nursing home. She passed away on December 12, 2006, at the age of 103. Thanks to Eugenia’s determination and hard work, along with that of many devoted volunteers, a dedicated staff, and generous members, her dream of the Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum lives on as a cultural legacy in Golden.