Paducah is home to a vibrant art scene since the early 1990s.

It's been home to the National Quilt Museum, drawing 40,000 guests a year.

Our Laura Rogers gives us a look inside in our weekly arts and culture segment we call Tapestry.

Over the years, And Duke has had a lot of history with the waterway.

We're right here on the confluence of the Ohio and Tennessee Rivers.

Rivers that set the backdrop for the National Quilt Museum in the heart of downtown Paducah, showcasing the many varieties, voices and styles of quilt making.

We enjoy when people come and see us, whether they are quilters or just kind of curious about what a quilt museum might be.

We are contemporary, so that means we're focusing on in our collection quilts from 1980 up through present day.

Becky Glasby learned the quilt from her aunt as a young teen as director of Learning and Engagement.

She remembers the enthusiasm and admiration of museum guests.

Just like maybe seeing a musician that you love and kind of seeing them live in concert, it's a little bit like, Oh my gosh, I've seen this quilt.

But now I get to see it up close.

You can really appreciate all of the details.

The museum encapsulates the vision of Bill and Meredith Shrader.

They were founders of the American Quilters Society and wanted to give back to their hometown.

People are always kind of surprised that we're here in Paducah, but that really all ties back to our founders.

Today, it is a popular attraction for both visitors and natives of Western Kentucky and is a catalyst for tourism development.

Once they're here, they get to experience our vibrant downtown.

We have a lot of arts and artists happening, lots of different shops, not just fiber arts or quilting, but all sorts of different things, as well as history.

There are more than 100 quilts on display at any given time.

The collection includes the work of talented quilters from all over the United States and 13 countries.

You can find similarities between them different color combinations, maybe unique ways people are using similar shapes or methods.

There are also traveling exhibitions that rotate throughout the year, meaning you'll likely see something new every time you visit.

We own almost 700 quilts, so we can't possibly put them all out at once.

So we do rotate those through.

When we get new pieces, we try to put those out as well so people can see them and and start enjoying them as much as we are.

And she hopes the artistry on display will elevate the creativity and inspiration of others.

We use quilts at home in a really personal way, putting them on beds, gifting them to people for weddings and baby showers and memory quilts.

And this is a way to celebrate those talents and traditions for years to come.

For Kentucky Edition, I'm Laura Rogers.

Thank you, Laura.

Among the museum's upcoming exhibitions, Quilts of Valor, which recognize is the service and sacrifice of our armed services.

It opens August 18th and runs through Veteran's Day.