19th century solar system quilt. Its maker used it to illustrate lectures on astronomy that she gave.

Stuff like that makes me happy. Happy to know that there was a woman out there in the 1880s giving lectures on astronomy (I wonder if she was part of the Chatauqua circuit?), and happy that she made a quilt that has lived down to this day.

On the NMAH website, it is noted that "astronomy was an acceptable interest for women in the 19th century, and was sometimes even fostered in their education."

Kind of like botany was, I guess. (I wonder if any cool 19th century botany quilts will come to light?)