Our country’s history is being commemorated stitch by stitch, as a national project works to create 13 embroidered tapestry panels (each representing one of the original colonies). It is one of many special events planned for the nation’s 250^th anniversary on July 4, 2026.  The finished product will feature the panels stitched together as “America’s Tapestry.”

Rhode Island is taking part, and it’s part of the quilt is being worked art by volunteers throughout the state.  In Cranston, the collaborative effort is being coordinated by Mary Grein-Gallo, Chairperson of the Cranston Art Commission, and an art teacher at Western Hills Middle School.

She said that over the next few weeks, the Rhode Island panel of the tapestry will be in the hands of volunteers meeting at local branches of the Cranston Public Library and then be brought to students at Western Hills.

It is a true community effort Grein-Gallo said, noting that work on the tapestry has already been done in other Rhode Island communities. Some of the volunteers have a lot of experience in the needle and fiber arts, while others are volunteers who want to help celebrate their country’s semiquincentennial anniversary, she said.

The tapestry project, including the design of each state’s panel, is being organized by 27-year-old artist and researcher Stefan Romero who is working with William & Mary, a college located in Williamsburg, Virgina, according to the “America’s Tapestry” project website.

The design of each of the 13 panels is intended to capture respective states’ contribution to the birth of the country and highlights some lesser known historical facts.

The panel designed for Rhode Island features the “Battle of Rhode Island,” a 1778 landmark event that marks one of the earliest collaborations of American and French forces as they fought to dislodge British troops from Newport.

Romero will be working with chapters of the Embroidery Guild of America during the project. Once the quilt is complete, it will initially be displayed at William & Mary College and then go on tour at several historic venues throughout the East Coast in mid-2026.

"It is a privilege for me to represent our Nation with a needlework project that will be a legacy product of this historic occasion,” Romero says on the project website. “As we look forward to our next 250 years, it is more important than ever to preserve a definitive art form that has contributed so much to our country's distinct artistic identity."

He says he was inspired in part by seeing The Great Tapestry of Scotland while on a trip to Europe. Considered one of the world’s longest embroidered tapestries as well as one of the largest community arts projects, the tapestry provides a visual history of Scotland.  It consists of 160 hand embroidered linen panels and was created by more than 1,000 volunteers.

“I was deeply moved by the richness and drama of Scotland’s story as it unfolded from panel to panel,” Romero said on the American project website. “As the product of many talented individuals working across the country to create harmonious whole, it seemed to characterize one of the defining features of the American experiment.”

Greim-Gallo said that in Cranston, the public can see the tapestry being worked on at various dates throughout the month at the William Hall branch of the Cranston Public Library as well as the Central library.  Some of the key volunteers will be members of the knitters’ clubs that meet at the libraries.

The dates include Wednesday, Sept 9, and Saturday, September 13 in the afternoon at the William Hall Library and later in the month at the Central Library.  Times and dates can be viewed at the library’s online calendar at https://events.cranstonlibrary.org.

Greim-Gallo said that during the week of September 22, she will have students at Western Hills work on the embroidered panel. “I want my students to experience the joy of being part of something bigger than themselves—a project that brings people together and celebrates the power of community along with celebrating our nation's 250th birthday,” she said.  “I want them to discover the beauty of fiber arts and embroidery, learning not only a new skill but also how art connects us, tells stories, and hopefully will create lasting memories for them.”

For more information on the tapestry project, visit https://www.americastapestry.com.