Armchair photo tours: Latimer Quilt & Textile Center in Tillamook, Oregon

The Tillamook County Quilt Trail Mural on an outside wall of the Latimer Quilt & Textile Center in Tillamook, Oregon

Photos by Cheryl Landes

The Latimer Quilt & Textile Center is a living, working museum in Tillamook, Oregon that promotes education and creation of the textile arts. The museum hosts bimonthly exhibits of vintage textiles and pieces from local, national, and international artists. Groups of quilters, weavers, knitters, drugmakers, and other needlework enthusiasts meet here weekly to practice their craft. They’ll often show and demonstrate their work with curious museum visitors.

The center is in a renovated schoolhouse. In 1892, James and Permelia Latimer donated property to build a school on one condition: If the school closed, the property would be returned to their heirs.

The Latimer Quilt & Textile Center

Maple Leaf School closed in 1959. Then the building was used as a storage, maintenance, and repair facility for Tillamook School District #9. In 1985, the Latimer heirs donated the property to the Tillamook County Pioneer Museum, and the center opened in 1991.

A school bell outside the Latimer Quilt & Textile Center

An exhibit of handmade quilts and clothing at the Latimer Quilt & Textile Center

A huipil (blouse) from Guatemala on display at the the Latimer Quilt & Textile Center

A close-up of the quilting work by Vickie van Koten. Her quilt, “Tikal to Chichicastenango”, was on display at the the Latimer Quilt & Textile Center.