For a colorful day trip, gas up your car and head straight to the scenic country roads around Shawano. This area not only has gorgeous Wisconsin countryside, it also happens to be the Barn Quilt Capitol of Wisconsin – and perhaps the world. Throughout the county, barns are decked out with these pretty geometric designs that are all hand-painted and one-of-a-kind. Some take a bit of driving to locate, but that’s half the fun. Here’s what you need to know to explore Shawano’s barn quilt country.

Shawano’s barn quilts were the brainchild of a local photographer who was impressed by similar quilts in in Iowa, Kentucky, Oregon, and southern Wisconsin. In 2010 he proposed that Shawano start its own barn quilt project.
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Local 4-H clubs took the challenge on and painted the quilts as a service project and began hanging them on barns in the county.
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The project had huge community backing. Several clubs, barn owners, businesses, and individuals lent support to the project and more and more quilts appeared. The Shawano Country Chamber of Commerce provided workspace in its basement, and a lot of farm owners participated.
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The quilts are easy to spot from the road. They are made with two 4’ X 8’ sheets of 3/4” plywood that is carefully painted in various patterns and colors, using painter’s tape.
Facebook / Visit Shawano: Shawano Country Tourism
Today there are more than 300 barn quilts spread across the county. If you drive - or bike - on just about any rural road for a while, you’ll spot one!
Facebook / Visit Shawano: Shawano Country Tourism
The Shawano area declares itself the “Barn Quilt Capital of Wisconsin” and locals believe that there is no county on earth with more barn quilts. It’s also the largest barn quilt trail in the U.S.
Facebook / Visit Shawano: Shawano Country Tourism

The barn quilts are a spectacular reason to explore this corner of northeast Wisconsin – if you’re an outdoors photographer, you’ll find plenty of beautiful subjects. Learn more about Shawano’s barn quilts here. Wisconsin has endless places that are perfect for a scenic drive. Here are five unforgettable drives you should put on your list.

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Shawano, WI, USA