What are we doing here?

If you’ve been in East Lawrence, you’ve probably driven past the Haskell Square Plaza commercial strip mall located at 19th & Haskell (just down the street from Marla Quilts Inc African American Quilt Museum & Textile Academy). And if you’ve lived in Lawrence for any amount of time, you’ve probably heard about this property’s sordid past.

Our mission at Marla Quilts Inc is to raise the capital necessary to purchase this property so that we can revitalize this blighted area, breathe new life and culture into this land located next door to The Miller House, a nationally designated Heritage Area known for its role as a safe house in the Underground Railroad and also being one of the first stops Quantrill made when arriving in Lawrence.

We intend to build a Living History Museum for Freedom Seekers where we will honor Maria Rogers Martin, quilter and previously enslaved woman who was relocated to Lawrence against her will by Union Soldiers, along with other inspirational local figures whose stories have yet to be told. Marla has spent 14 years doing meticulous research on Maria, whose life is well documented by a journalist whom she cared for as a child. Current exhibitions underway for the museum include a 6-foot tile mural and a period-piece replica dress created by world-renowned costume designer Sara Bunn.

Through tenacity and courage that parallels that displayed by Maria back in the 1800’s, Marla Jackson had a vision for this what this property could become, and the value it could bring to our community, so she tracked down and contacted the property owner. She has since negotiated a signed 3-year option to purchase this property at the price of $1.5 million. This means our vision is underway and now we need your help!

Marla Quilts Inc has begun working with Clear Choice Commercial Realty and local architecture firm Bartlett & West to draw up plans for construction and implementation of our vision. We are actively applying for state & federal grants to assist with funding, including the TASK grant recently announced by Kansas governor Laura Kelly.

Please consider donating today to help us revitalize this blighted area, contribute to our local economy through increased tourism, and inspire + empower our local community through visual arts and education.