Take This Barn Quilt Tour In Nebraska For A Day Of Old-Fashioned Fun

There's nothing quite like a nice country drive to relax you and remind you of just how much you love Nebraska. How about adding in some visual treats along the way to make your trip a little more interesting and artistic? Southeast Nebraska is full of beautiful barn quilts that everyone should see.

There are some outliers, but for the most part, Nebraska's barn quilts are concentrated in the southeastern part of the state. There's no official route to see them all; just pick a starting point and use this map to see the locations of barn quilts in that county.

Barn quilts are a relatively new phenomenon. The trend began with one woman in Ohio in 2001 and has since spread across the country. They're colorful little pieces of art hung on the outside of barns, combining folk art, quilting, and long drives down country roads.

People who wish to make a barn quilt can flex their creative muscles to make a design that's meaningful to them.

Most barn quilt makers stick with the traditional geometric designs you would expect to find on a fabric quilt...

...But some take the concept a little further and design a quilt that's not exactly traditional, but still lovely and interesting.

The trend has spread way beyond barns. Businesses, homes, and even town councils have started putting them up all over.

Barn quilts have become a terrific way to promote tourism in the participating counties. Hop in the car and drive to as many as you'd like to see. In some towns, you can get out and walk to see these unique pieces of art. See the Nebraska counties that have barn quilts - just click on each county to see a list of them all and start planning your route.

Interested in seeing other attractions that don't require hiking (or even much walking)? Read our previous article about easily-accessible natural wonders right here.