Display: AIDS Memorial Quilt

The AIDS Memorial Quilt is part of the National AIDS Memorial, which is dedicated to sharing the story of the AIDS pandemic. Conceived in 1985, the Memorial Quilt is considered the largest community arts project in history and celebrates, commemorates, and remembers the those who died during the pandemic. 

The Quilt was first displayed with nearly 2,000 panels at the National Mall in Washington DC in October 1987 during the 2nd National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights, and in the years since, has been displayed around the country. Today, the quilt consists of more than 50,000 individual panels, each recognizing an individual who died of AIDS-related complications. Eight panels are grouped into blocks. The entire quilt can be viewed online through the National AIDS Memorial website.

The block on display at the Vermont History Museum is #4007, on loan from the National AIDS Memorial, which contains a panel honoring Joseph Anthony Dattilo, the brother of Vermonter Mary Ann Boyd.  

The AIDS Memorial Quilt is on view through August 2nd, 2025. Admission is not required to view the quilt.