Marquette County Barn Quilts and Hidden History Murals
More About Barn Quilts
Barn Quilt blocks, many representing heritage quilt designs, are painted on 8’x 8’ (or smaller) exterior signboard and then hung on barns or buildings throughout Marquette County. We are excited about sight-seers driving along our highways and byways, enjoying these rural works of art. You are invited to visit our towns, shops, and enjoy meals and overnight stays.
Agriculture works hard for Marquette County every day. Family-owned farms, food processors and agriculture-related businesses generate thousands of jobs and millions of dollars of economic activity. Marquette County has very diverse agricultural communities in the Central Sands area of Wisconsin. The county is constantly in the top five counties for mint oil and Christmas trees along with having significant vegetable production of potatoes and sweet corn.
Marquette County has a rich history in dairy production and cash grain crops, several large nursery producers and sod farms. Individuals or families own 85.5% of Marquette County farms. Residents and visitors also cherish Marquette County for its recreational opportunities with abundant lakes, rivers and woodlands. Our rich agricultural history mixes perfectly with our love of quilts to produce the Barn Quilts project.
If you have a barn quilt you'd like to add, please click the button below for the registration form.
More About Hidden History Murals
Montello Historic Preservation Society/Marquette County Historical Society
In conjunction with our local historical societies, Marquette County’s Hidden History mural trail project has placed a number of Barn Quilts and Mural on barns, buildings and posts throughout the county so locals and visitors can follow a charted trail to see and learn about these images, appreciate their history and admire their beauty.
There is only one stoplight in Marquette County’s entire 455 square miles. No traffic jams or shopping malls – just miles of beautiful, gently rolling countryside. The mural trail directs sight-seers along highways and byways to view the beautiful sites of Marquette County, to visit our towns and villages, and to get pleasure from our new public art.
Neshkoro - A Mural Village
A quaint little village of 450, Neshkoro maintains the look of when it developed around the turn of the century. Church steeples on a hill overlook the millpond, and the Neshkoro Mill looks as it did when the trains came through. Six large murals that capture memories of years-gone-by now enhance its heritage and new murals are being added each year.
Neshkoro – A Mural Village has become the highlight of the Hidden History mural project. When the Neshkoro Enhancement Committee (NEC) heard about the mural project they jumped on the bandwagon and became the first mural village in Marquette County. NEC sponsors murals throughout the Village, organizes mural events, and designs and coordinates interactive community murals.
Endeavor Beautification Committee
The Endeavor Beautification Committee (EBC) works to improve the Village of Endeavor through a variety of activities such as filling planters with flowers at the Civic Center, organizing seasonal decorating, hanging village banners, assisting the Library with Halloween, Easter and Christmas activities for the kids, and providing welcome baskets for new residents. Endeavor is a Tree City USA community.
Joining with the Marquette County Mural Trail the EBC has designed a series of Wildlife & Quilt murals as memorial tributes to community members. These mini seating areas include a beautiful metal park bench, a beautiful heritage quilt and wildlife mural, shrubs, flower plantings, and a memorial plaque. Memorial murals are located near the Civic Center, along the Lion’s Park walkway. A larger wall mural is located on the back of the park concession stand, and a barn quilt mural at 415 Lakeview Avenue.