Textile History along the ICW

Upstairs Parlour Murat House

My first quilt siting had been at the Halifax Historical Museum in Daytona Beach.  It's quite an interesting museum covering Daytona's diverse history, especially auto racing. Many land speed records had been set on the beach between 1903 to 1936.  Upstairs in Grandma's Attic, I found a lovely display of old toys, clothes, books and bric-a-brac and even a well cared for old quilt; perhaps a single Irish chain in red & white from memory.... It seems so long ago since I saw it now!

Flagler College Mosaic

Further north along the ICW is St Augustine, a very popular tourist town. Out of the hustle and bustle, you can find the splendid Dow Museum of Historic Houses.  Keep walking up Cordova Street, it's just behind the Lightner Museum (once Flagler's resort casino & hotel).  The Dow Museum is a town block of nine homes covering the period between 1790 to 1910.  I found a lovely quilt in the Canova House (1840) (I think) and another crazy patch in the Worchester House (1906).  I've included a view of the ravishing bedroom and attic (for ladies to languish) of Prince Murat House. The house is named after Prince Murat, Napoleon's nephew, who boarded in this modest home in 1824 soon after he "moved" to America.

Dow Museum Finds

We discovered some lovely mansions in Charleston SC now open as museums.  However, photography was not allowed, so no pics!  The Haywood Washington House (1772) did have a delightful feather bed in a room said to be (most likely) used by George Washington during his stay in this attractive city.  Charleston just screams of applique quilts, feather beds and pineapple designs. Charleston is also known for its traditional sweetgrass baskets woven by Gullah families and sold in the marketplace.

Pre-Coloumbian Textile Chrysler Museum

Lastly, I did find an antique quilt for sale whilst browsing in Portsmouth VA.  No - I didn't buy it....  Shrinking luggage allowances on international flights and strict quarantine rules (thinking of grass baskets) limit a credit card blowout.  On the other side of the Elizabeth River, Norfolk's Chrysler Museum of Art had a few sensational textile finds - both very modern and very ancient. I also loved the City Logo; a playful set of lavishly decorated mermaids who inhabit downtown.  I want one for my garden!

Chrysler Museum of Art

I have just been reading about Norfolk and Portsmouth's role as sites in the underground railroad (1850's). (The existence of the underground railroad is somewhat contentious.) This network of houses known as stations, guided many slave runaways to their safety. Quilts may have played a role; various patterns were said to be codes to help slaves find the freedom they sought.