Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

For Dawn Conrad, it started about 13 years ago. When she moved to Victoria, the retired Virginia Cooperative Extension Master Gardener wanted to find an artistic outlet, something that would also help her connect with people in her new community. 

“At the time, I didn’t sew, but had a deep appreciation for all kinds of fiber art and fabric,” Conrad said. “I was connected to a quilting instructor, who introduced me to the Monday Night Quilter’s Group in Victoria.” 

And from there, Conrad’s hobby took off. 

“I was blessed beyond measure to have been taught the skill of quilting by some of the best teachers, many of whom became dear friends,” Conrad said. 

Dawn Conrad brings her artwork to Dayton

Now residents from all over Virginia will have a chance to see the Victoria resident’s quilting skills on display, thanks to the Virginia Quilt Museum. Located in Dayton, the quilt museum chose 250 quilts from across the Commonwealth to be part of its Stitching Together History exhibit. The chosen quilts depict a person, place, event or idea from Virginia’s history. Conrad’s quilt reflects her town, as it represents the Town of Victoria. Chosen in the category of “Power of Place”, the quilt focuses on Victoria’s rich history as part of America’s early railroad industry. 

Now if you can’t make it out to see the exhibit in person, there are a couple other ways to catch a glimpse of Conrad’s work. In addition to the exhibit, there will be conversations with Conrad and other quilters included on the museum’s YouTube channel. Also, a book will be published to commemorate the event.

“Although it is indeed an honor to have my work accepted into a juried exhibit, I am more delighted to bring recognition to the town of Victoria,” Conrad said. “I love sharing with others the rich history of Victoria and its community.” 

More about Victoria and the exhibit

Victoria’s history dates back to 1906, when the Virginian Railway was built to take coal from Southwest Virginia to the ports in the Tidewater. Victoria is located halfway between those two stops and it is believed that Henry H. Rogers, builder of the Virginian Railway, named the town after Queen Victoria. The town was incorporated by the Lunenburg County Circuit Court in April 1909 and later by the Virginia General Assembly in March 1916. 

We’ve mentioned the railroad and for good reason. Victoria developed around the railroad shops, built on farmland and forest. The town began to develop around the railroad shops and was built on farmland and forest. These shops remained in the Town of Victoria until 1959 when the Virginian Railway merged with the Norfolk & Western Railway, what we now call Norfolk Southern. The railroad was active in town until the late 1980s, when the last tracks were removed. 

As for the exhibit, it will be up  open July 4, 2026 through December 22, 2026 at the Virginia Quilt Museum 2328 Silver Lake Road. Dayton, VA 22821. There will be an opening reception on July 4, 2026 at the museum celebrating both the exhibit and the 250th. Anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.