The National Quilt Museum is the portal to the contemporary quilt experience through traditional and non-traditional quiltmaking. It is the gateway to the discovery of quilts, quiltmaking, and the quilt artist. The Museum is committed to be the best in quilt exhibitions, quilt education, and quilt experience.

The National Quilt Museum has developed a statement of shared values in these areas: commitment, quality, service, leadership, integrity, creativity, openness & cooperation, community and hospitality.

COMMITMENT to the art of quilts, quilt making, and quilt makers, in all their diversity.

QUALITY as a standard to strive for in all activity of the museum.

SERVICE to our diverse public, meeting their needs with respect and understanding.

LEADERSHIP as a goal in all museum activity and interaction, local, national and international.

INTEGRITY in all working relationships and professional practices.

CREATIVITY in developing and implementing new ideas, approaches, and collaborations.

OPENNESS & COOPERATION in the planning, management, and work of the museum.

COMMUNITY as a goal to be fostered through museum activity and interaction.

HOSPITALITY in the museum's interactions with its diverse public.

These shared values grow out of our mission and help shape our vision and goals.

Initially named the Museum of the American Quilter’s Society, construction costs for the museum's facility were supported entirely by Bill and Meredith Schroeder of Paducah, Kentucky. This couple had earlier founded the American Quilter's Society (AQS), a division of Schroeder Publishing.

In 1983, the Schroeders became interested in quilting after attending the National Quilting Association show in Bell Buckle, Tennessee, and the Houston Quilt Festival. They decided to bring attention to the extraordinary work today's quilt makers were creating. Out of that idea came AQS. The first annual AQS Quilt Show and Contest was held in Paducah in 1985, and the first issue of American Quilter magazine was published that same year.

The Schroeders were committed to increasing the respect the general public had for quilts and quiltmakers. Through AQS activities, Bill and Meredith came into contact with many of the top quilters from around the country, and they began to purchase quilts made by them. In addition, the top awards in the annual AQS Show were established as purchase awards. Gradually a collection developed. Out of a desire to share that collection grew the concept of a museum dedicated to quilts, quiltmakers and quilting.

In the summer of 1990, ground was broken for the construction of such a museum and a separate nonprofit corporation governed by its own Board of Directors was founded. The Schroeder family supported the design and construction of the $2.2 million facility that houses the museum. When the museum opened in April 1991, its collection contained fewer than 85 quilts on loan from the founders. Since that time these and many others have been donated to the museum, bringing the collection to more than 300.

In 1996 the museum's provisional non-profit status as a 501(c)(3) was reviewed by the IRS and continued. Since its founding in 1991, the museum has enjoyed a history of growth and development.

The museum received a huge honor in May 2008 when the congressional designation as The National Quilt Museum of the United States was bestowed. The designation brings additional national attention and helps increase the number of visitors. The Museum averages 40,000 visitors per year from across the country and more than 50 countries internationally. These tourists spend money in Paducah and the surrounding areas, bringing economic benefits to the community.

Following an "Envisioning Our Future" conference held in June 1997 with QM2 museum management consultants Will Philips and Mary Case, and stakeholders from the region and the national constituency, the museum's board of directors and staff developed and documented shared VISION, VALUES, and GOALS.

From 2007-2009, the museum worked with consultant Michael Dimengo of Sage Fundraising in a process of revising its Mission Statement, reaffirming its shared Values, and developing a new Strategic Plan including new Goals to continue guiding the museum in the 21st Century.