National Museum of the American Coverlet

The National Museum of the American Coverlet gives woven bedcovers a place at the center of historical interpretation. Opened in May 2006 in Bedford's former Common School building of 1859, it offers a focused way to consider domestic objects as evidence of skill, work and individual identity.

Changing displays bring coverlets into conversation with equipment such as spinning wheels and looms. Looking at both the textile and the means of making it helps the visitor move beyond surface pattern. A useful approach is to compare color, structure and the relationship between an object and the labor it required, allowing questions to guide the visit.

The exhibition currently announced in September 2026 is Fiber to Fabric: Stay at Home and Use Me Well, revisiting the Ron and Kitty Bell Walter Collection. Linen, clothing, decorative towels and weaving implements extend the subject beyond bedcovers. This exhibition also accompanies the museum's twentieth-anniversary year.

Opening is currently Monday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m.; Tuesday and Wednesday are closed. Parking is available without charge. An appointment is not required, although the museum encourages a call before a long journey. That contact is also the right opportunity to discuss access requirements and the kind of interpretation a group would find most useful.

Verified: 2026-09-26 · Official website · Address: 322 South Juliana Street, Bedford, PA 15522 · Phone: +1 814-623-1588 · Email: info@coverletmuseum.org

Sources: National Museum of the American Coverlet — overview · National Museum of the American Coverlet — exhibitions.htm · National Museum of the American Coverlet — location.htm