On April 16th, the Foster and Muriel McCarl Coverlet Gallery will host an opening reception for a new exhibition of antique coverlets entitled “The Lives and Times of 1846.” The exhibition celebrates the 180th anniversary of Saint Vincent College with a collection of twenty-five decorative bed coverlets that were handwoven by skilled artisans in the year 1846, which is the same year that Rev. Boniface Wimmer established a monastic community in Westmoreland County. The open-house reception will be held on Thursday, April 16th, 2026 from 4:00-7:00 p.m. in the Fred Rogers Center on the campus of Saint Vincent College.  The event is free and open to the public.  It will include light refreshments, door prizes, crafts, and a scavenger hunt. 

In July of 1846, Rev. Boniface Wimmer, O.S.B., set out from Germany to establish a monastic community in Pennsylvania. In November, he founded Saint Vincent College and Seminary. But what was life like in Westmoreland County at that time? Curated by Saint Vincent College history major Isabella Jolly, “The Lives and Times of 1846” invites visitors to explore a year in history with a focus on the lives of everyday people. The exhibition provides a window into the past through newspaper clippings, historic art and artifacts, and a collection of antique bed coverlets that were woven in 1846—including local coverlets made by five different Westmoreland County handweavers.

Following the opening reception on April 16th, the exhibition will remain on display through September, 2026.  The Foster and Muriel McCarl Coverlet Gallery is located on the ground floor of the Fred M. Rogers Conference Center on the campus of Saint Vincent College. Admission and parking are free. The McCarl Gallery is open during the academic year from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Wednesday through Friday, and by appointment. Guided tours are also available. For additional information, please visit www.coverletgallery.org, follow the McCarl Gallery on Facebook, or call 724.805.2188.