More About Paducah
Perhaps you have heard Paducah, KY called Quilt City USA and wondered how Paducah came to be Quilt City USA.
Bill and Marilyn Schroeder of Paducah, owners of Schroeder Publishing (collectors know them for their top-notch price guides) and collectors of contemporary quilts, started the American Quilter's Society in 1984 to support quilters by promoting the study and development of quilts.
In 1985 the AQS held their first quilt show in Paducah. Over the years the show grew and became know by quilters all over the world. Ask a quilter (there are a lot of them in New Albany) and even if they have not attended the show they will most likely be familiar with it. The Paducah-McCracken Convention and Visitors Bureau estimates that the quilt show brings in 15 million a year to the local economy. Hotels in a 60-100 mile radius fill up and local families rent out rooms to the overflow. Local restaurants cannot accomodate the crowds so local churches step in to serve meals (and raise funds). In 1991 the AQS built a museum in downtown Paducah giving the downtown a year-round boost.
The folks in Paducah recognized the pennies from heaven that were raining down and started to build on that by branding their city Quilt City USA.
Two years ago when I was in Paducah much of the downtown redevelopment was centered around tourism--antique malls and shops, gift shops, quilting supply shops, and restaurants. At that time a performing arts center was under construction downtown and was expected to draw residents from the surrounding area. Things were looking up for Paducah.
www.quiltmusem.org
www.paducah-tourism.org
www.fourriverscenter.org
Bill and Marilyn Schroeder of Paducah, owners of Schroeder Publishing (collectors know them for their top-notch price guides) and collectors of contemporary quilts, started the American Quilter's Society in 1984 to support quilters by promoting the study and development of quilts.
In 1985 the AQS held their first quilt show in Paducah. Over the years the show grew and became know by quilters all over the world. Ask a quilter (there are a lot of them in New Albany) and even if they have not attended the show they will most likely be familiar with it. The Paducah-McCracken Convention and Visitors Bureau estimates that the quilt show brings in 15 million a year to the local economy. Hotels in a 60-100 mile radius fill up and local families rent out rooms to the overflow. Local restaurants cannot accomodate the crowds so local churches step in to serve meals (and raise funds). In 1991 the AQS built a museum in downtown Paducah giving the downtown a year-round boost.
The folks in Paducah recognized the pennies from heaven that were raining down and started to build on that by branding their city Quilt City USA.
Two years ago when I was in Paducah much of the downtown redevelopment was centered around tourism--antique malls and shops, gift shops, quilting supply shops, and restaurants. At that time a performing arts center was under construction downtown and was expected to draw residents from the surrounding area. Things were looking up for Paducah.
www.quiltmusem.org
www.paducah-tourism.org
www.fourriverscenter.org
posted by na girl | 10:35 AM
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