Historic Carson House is fortunate to have an extensive collection of quilts and coverlets, made and/or donated by local families. Most are slave-made quilts, and each has its own story.

In 1842, John Logan of McDowell County put Hannah, a twelve year old slave girl, behind his daughter, Margaret, on her horse. He then put Pharoah, a twelve year old slave boy, behind his new son-in-law, Thomas Young Greenlee, on his horse. John said, "These are your wedding gifts." Hannah became a house servant and Pharoah became a blacksmith. They later married. During the days of the War between the States, the Underground Railroad was active through the very heart of McDowell County. Hannah pieced this quilt during those harrowing days, stitching into the pieces African symbols which served as messages and directions to would-be travelers on the 'railroad". Some of the symbols are recognized as characters of the Vai Syllabary, an African alphabet. Hannah pieced the quilt by hand using scrap materials of homespun cotton and wool, with some silk and velvet scraps interspersed. The quilt lining was left unfinished until Emma "Em" Greenlee, Hannah's daughter, completed it in 1895.

The quilt has been recognized in numerous publications including The North Carolina Quilt Project, The Maryland Sun News: Artistry Knew No Bondage, Janice Cole Gibson's: Carson House Quilts in Quilt World, and Stitched From the Soul: Slave Quilts of the Antebellum South.

In 2007, the National Endowment for the Humanities selected Hannah and Emma's quilt to be a part of their "Picturing America" program. This program provides through grants, teacher resources and posters to every school in the United States. The quilt is pictured in the resource book and on the poster and is one of the images to be viewed nationwide in educational programs throughout the schools of America.

In 2009, the ALA (American Library Association) requested that the imagery of this quilt be used in a continuation of the National Endowment for the Humanities project as it continues the exhibit for educational public programs, "Picturing America for Public Libraries."

A unique and beautiful appliquéd quilt of silk chintz imported from France was carefully sewn by Kadella, Carson family slave who became the seamstress for the family. Legend has it that Kadella was the daughter of an African Chieftain, and thus a princess in her homeland. She was taken to Barbados by slave traders, where she was purchased by Col. John Carson and brought to his plantation in McDowell County. Ka della was quite beautiful, and because she was considered royalty in her home country, the other slaves on the Carson plantation revered her. When it was necessary for her to travel from the slave quarters to the “big house”, her fellow slaves carried her about on a palanquin. She became a favorite of the Carsons and it was soon learned that she was quite accomplished at sewing. She was given a special little house near the Carson family home and lived her life with the Carsons, making all the quilts and clothing for the family. Another special quilt, stitched in small pieces called a “crazy quilt” pattern was made by the mother of a Methodist minister who traveled to Oklahoma with the Cherokee on the Trail of Tears.

It is said that this quilt comforted many Native Americans on this infamous journey.