DAWSON CITY – It was time to look at, or participate in, quilting at the Dawson City Museum last month.

Displayed on the main floor, and in the former Territorial Legislative Chambers on the second floor were dozens of impressive quilts. They had recently been toured under the title of Yukon Visions, as part of Quilt Canada’s national event held in June in Edmonton. 

The July 12-14 Dawson exhibit was prepared by the Kluane Quilters’ Guild.

Whitehorse-based organizer Elaine Rohatensky suggested taking the exhibit to Dawson. Angharad Wenz, the museum’s executive director/curator, said the board was inspired to get busy organizing its own display of local quilts.

This is not a new idea here. In 1967, the Dawson City Museum and Historical Society published a book called Heirlooms: a Collection of Fine Quilts Handcrafted in Dawson City to Document this Local Tradition. That book features 39 themed quilts crafted by more than 100 community members for Dawson babies and organizations.

Now, 37 years later, the board decided to produce a sequel. This 60-page spiral-bound booklet is entitled Heirlooms: the Tradition Continues, and subtitled “Community Quilts from Tr’ondëk-Klondike”.

It honours the region’s designation as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which was announced in September 2023.

This new book is organized in sections featuring Baby Quilts, Friendship Quilts and Fundraising Quilts.

The book was prepared in a hurry, and Wenz conceded it contains some errors and a few technical problems. It should be considered the ”first stitch” in a project will see a more complete edition sometime in the fall, Wenz said.

These first draft books, beautifully produced even if they weren’t complete, were given away as part of the event on July 12.

The books, and the selection of quilts presented by the Kluane Quilters’ Guild, were on display in late July. There were also quilt square-making workshops.