The much anticipated and long awaited Pioneer Museum of Alabama Quilt Show is just around the corner. The 2013 quilt show will feature demonstrations and stories by the Gee’s Bend Quilters and a quilt turning demonstration by noted quilter Sherry Burkhalter.

The Gee’s Bend Quilters will be at the museum on March 2 and Burkhalter on March 9.

Kari Barley, museum director, said the biennial show will include nearly 100 handmade quilts from an heirloom quilt that dates back to 1775 to quilts just out of the frame.

The museum is accepting entries to the biennial show through Feb. 20.

Those who would like to enter a quilt in the show are asked to bring their quilts to the museum and fill out the necessary paperwork.

“If there is an interesting story about the quilt, we would like to have the story printed on a card so that it may be placed next to the quilt for everyone to enjoy,” Barley said. “There is no entry fee to the show and we encourage everyone to enter their quilts. We do ask that quilts that are in fragile condition not be entered. However, if the quilt has an unusual pattern or history, we will try to make arrangements.”

Barley said the museum’s 1775 quilt is the oldest quilt that has been displayed at the museum’s quilt shows.

“Not only is it the oldest quilt we have at the museum, it also has an interesting story,” Barley said. “The quilt is a feather quilt that belonged to the grandmother of Mrs. Passmore, who donated the quilt to the museum. The story is that the family moved from South Carolina to Monticello in Pike County. The lady who made the quilt stood wrapped in it as she watched the Indians being forcefully moved along the Trail of Tears to the Indian Territory that is now Oklahoma.”

Barley said many of the quilts that will be on display at the museum have stories.

“The stories make the quilts even more interesting so we encourage those who have stories to share them,” she said.

For more information, call the museum at 334-566-3597.