In honor of the nation’s 250th birthday, Visit Williamsburg has the launched of The Great American Birthday Quilt Project. It is a nationwide event inviting participants to “stitch their story” into a monumental quilt that will celebrate the country’s past, present, and future.
The goal is to engage people from all over the U.S. to handcraft a powerful tribute to America that can be admired by generations to come. This collaborative effort will be led by Steve Prince, Director of Engagement and Distinguished Artist in Residence at the Muscarelle Museum of Art at William & Mary, in partnership with Visit Williamsburg, the destination marketing organization for Yorktown, Jamestown, and Williamsburg, Virginia.
As the place where the first English settlement in America was founded, where the tenets of American Democracy took root, and where the Revolutionary War was won, the Historic Triangle of Williamsburg, Jamestown, and Yorktown offers a deeply symbolic backdrop for this commemorative effort. People nationwide will be able to take part in the project by joining quilt workshops in select cities, submitting quilt squares from home or donating materials that will be incorporated into The Great American Birthday Quilt. No sewing skills are required to participate, as submissions for both sewn and glued quilt squares will be accepted. Each handcrafted square will reflect a personal piece of American pride, history, or hope—woven together into a shared tapestry that captures the heart and diversity of the American experience. The completed quilt will debut in Spring 2026 and be on display at the Colonial Williamsburg Visitor Center, following a public exhibition at historic sites across the nation.
“We are inviting people not just to submit a quilt square, but to reflect—to leave a piece of themselves in a quilt that will tell America’s story for generations,” said Prince. Like America, quilting is layered, collaborative, and expressive. Each square holds a voice, a memory, a dream—stitched into the national narrative with shared threads of hope.”
“We are proud to partner with Steve Prince on such a meaningful project that invites people from every corner of the nation to create something that will continue to inspire and captivate visitors for generations,” said Edward Harris, Chief Executive Officer of Visit Williamsburg. “As a historical destination, the upcoming 250th Commemoration milestone gives us a unique opportunity to not only encourage collaboration through our quilt initiative, but also inspire people across the country to visit The Historic Triangle, where America’s Journey began.”
From colonial reenactments and cultural exhibits to archeological digs, concerts, art festivals, and more, the Historic Triangle will be a hotspot for America250 and VA250 commemorative events, entertainment and educational experiences this year and next. Colonial Williamsburg, American Revolution Museum at Yorktown, Jamestown Settlement, as well as Busch Gardens Williamsburg theme park are just a small sampling of the local attractions for visitors of all ages and interests.
Panel submissions for The Great American Birthday Quilt will be accepted from June 18, 2025 – November 30, 2025 with final assembly taking place in Spring 2026. For more details on how to find a quilt workshop in your area, participate, and submit your quilt square from home, please visit https://www.visitwilliamsburg.com/america250-birthday-quilt/