Connecting Borders Barn Quilt Trail
Rural Klamath Connects Regional Barn Quilt Trail Project
On May 28th the first in a series of Barn Quilt Blocks was erected in Tulelake,
California at the Tulelake Cold Storage Building owned by Reba and Dennis
VanAcker. Barn quilt blocks are specially designed, hand painted, 8×8-foot
wooden art works that adorn historical barns and buildings.
Rural Klamath Connects, a non-profit group from three Oregon towns, Merrill,
Malin, and Bonanza and two California towns, Tulelake and Dorris—with grant
funding help from The Ford Family Foundation, Travel Oregon, Siskiyou Arts
Council and the Oregon Community Foundation—have collaborated to bring
together area residents, their historic barns and buildings, and their artistic talent
to develop a barn quilt trail connecting the five towns.
The Connecting Border Barn Quilt Trail project, to be completed over three years,
will design and produce a series of 50, eight foot Quilt Blocks that will portray the
culture, history and landscape of these five rural communities in the Southern
Klamath Basin.
Phase 1 of this project will result in a total of ten Barn Quilt Blocks, two per
community. Phase 2 will see an additional 15 blocks, three per community along
with a brochure which will include a trail map. Information will also be integrated
into local, county and state tourism websites. The final goal is for 50 plus Barn
Quilt Blocks.
The commitment of this team is to contribute to the preservation of the region's
rich history and to educate residents and visitors about culture, agriculture,
landscape and natural resources along with the amazing history this region has to
offer.
If you have questions and would like to speak to someone knowledgeable about
this project drop in to Tater Patch Quilts, 109 E Front Street, Merrill, OR, 97633
during regular business hours.