From May 25th to October 15th, 2024, the Bear River Heritage Area is holding a quilt show showcasing the culture and history of Southeast Idaho at the National Oregon/California Trail Center in Montpelier, Idaho. Sponsored by the Idaho Humanities Council, this exhibit focuses on quilters from the Oneida, Franklin, Bear Lake, and Caribou counties of Idaho.
Each of the quilts depicts a different aspect of Idaho’s traditions and heritage. Some focus on the nature and beauty of the state and others depicting regional folklore and practices. Whatever the topic, these quilts describe life in Idaho and the individual quilters’ experiences.
Quilters summited works that described their lived experience in Idaho. For some, this is represented by historical quilts that have been passed down in their families for generations; for others, it is about agriculture and the farming that impacts their daily lives. Based on these interviews with quilters, the quilts are divided into four categories in the exhibit: history, heritage, agriculture, and nature.
The central bear panel on a quilt detailing the local landmarks and legends of Montpelier, Idaho, by Nancy Mendelsohn.
One of the quilts made specifically for the show comes from Brenda Daniels. She has lived in Malad for her entire life, and she created the “Iron Door” quilt to share a local legend. Stagecoaches and freight wagons used to run through Malad, attracting robbers. Three of these robbers took an iron door from a bank vault and put it in the entryway of a cave in the Samaria mountains. They used this as their hideout and to store all the stolen gold and money.
During their last robbery, all three were shot, but they managed to make it back to the cave. Knowing that they wouldn’t survive without help, one of the robbers left and came down to the valley to get help. He made it to a farmhouse but died before he could disclose the location.
Legend says that the gold still remains behind an iron door somewhere in the mountains. Local residents have claimed to find the door, and have even tied up sheep, colts, and cows at the location so they could find it again. However, when they try to return or show others, they can never find it again.
When asked about how this quilt represents Idaho to her, Brenda stated that “Every community has a legend or has a story, has something that happened there. We have a lot of businesses that use the ‘Iron Door’ in their name, and anybody from Malad will recognize the Iron Door. It’s something that is a part of our culture.” The Iron Door legend is a part of the heritage and history of Malad, and this quilt shares and preserves that story.
“Every community has a legend or has a story, has something that happened there…It’s something that is a part of our culture.”
Brenda Daniels
The quilt exhibit is located on the second floor of the National Oregon/California Trail Center in Montpelier, Idaho, and is free to enter. The center is located on the historic Oregon/California Trail. Halfway between Jackson, Wyoming, and Salt Lake City, Utah, the center offers a unique glimpse into Oregon Trail history. Visitors can take an informative and engaging trip down the trail as guides lead you through the Oregon/California trail. The trip includes a simulated wagon ride that features journals from early pioneers. You can also visit the Rails and Trails Museum which displays the heritage of Montpelier and the Bear Lake region.
We want to express our gratitude to the National Oregon/California Trail Center for hosting the show as well as the Idaho Humanities Council for providing a grant for this project. Most of all, we wish to thank the many quilters who participated in this exhibit and agreed to share their work and experiences.
Story and photos by Emma George, the Heritage and Folk Art Coordinator for the Bear River Heritage Area.
Check out these additional photos in the gallery!
