From Private Residence to Hospital to Museum and More!

The Gaches Mansion was constructed in 1891 by George and Louisa Gaches for their residence. George and his brother James purchased the mercantile store from John and Louisa Conner and began shipments of hay and grains from the Swinomish flats.

George moved to Seattle around 1900 and sold the mansion to Dr. G.E. Howe, who used it as a hospital. In 1909 Dr. Howe sold it to L.W. and Julia Vaughan for their home.

The house was sold to Louise Bettner at a Sheriff’s sale in 1940. She turned it into the “Castle Apartments.” A.N. and Mary Herrold owned the building when a fire broke out on the third floor in April, 1973.

In 1974 local citizens formed La Conner Landmarks (a non-profit organization), borrowed money, and bought the gutted mansion. After many fund-raising events, and with help from the Federal Historical Preservation Fund, the mansion was restored in 1978.

The mansion was rented to Art’s Gallery after the restoration, and was a temporary home to the Valley Museum of Northwest Art until 1995. The La Conner Quilt & Textile Museum opened in the Gaches Mansion in September 1997.

The first floor of the Quilt & Textile Museum retains the décor of the Victorian era, with quilts from that time period on display. On the second floor you will find our main exhibition space and the Sales Gallery. The third floor provides additional exhibition space and a quilt frame for local quilters.

The Museum offers new exhibits about every eight weeks, featuring quilts and quilters from the United States and around the world, including well-known contemporary quilters and quilts from historical, worldwide and regional collections.