Started in 2024 by Debbie Nehring Barker, Hibbing’s Barn Quilt Trail involved more than 24 volunteer painters to design and paint these barn quilts. You can find these quilts on the light poles on Howard Street, and around town at special locations like the Greyhound Bus Museum, Hibbing City Hall and Carey Lake Recreation Area.
The history of the American Barn Quilt can be traced back almost 300 years, to the arrival of immigrants from the central regions of Europe; Germany, Austria, and the Netherlands.
It is widely believed that barn painting/quilting originated in Pennsylvania with these immigrants and then spread to much of the New England and Midwestern states. Paint was very expensive in those days and painting a decorative yet distinctive quilt pattern on their barns was a wonderful way of allowing for decoration. It also became an excellent way for travelers to find particular families or cross roads, as towns people would just tell them which pattern to look for.
Paint became less costly around the 1830’s to 1840’s and at this point, barn painting/decorating became an actual trade with specialized artisans. These artists combined many folk designs as well as specific geometric patterns from quilt squares: Snail trail, Bear claw, Mariners compass and Drunkards path.
Decorating barns with colorful designs and quilt squares peaked by the beginning of the 20th century and slowly gave way to a more pragmatic form of barn painting; advertisement. Gone were the colorful quilts and in their place came the paid ads for Red Man Chewing Tobacco, Ceresota Flour, and Mail Pouch: A nostalgic part of the history of American barns in their own right.
Individual Artist Project Grant is made possible in part by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Arrowhead Regional Arts Council, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.