Situated at the convergence of the Ohio and Tennessee rivers, Paducah has long been a hub for inland waterway transit. The influx of boat passengers allowed the city to gain an early commercial foothold that now works in tandem with its growing reputation as a cultural destination, dotted with historic buildings and suffused with new ideas.

The institution of the Artist Relocation Program in 2000 helped attract an influx of creatives to what was already known as “Quilt City USA,” and the momentum has yet to subside. In 2013, Paducah landed a coveted UNESCO “Creative City” designation (there are only nine in the U.S.), and today the town is home to not only world-renowned quilters, but also James Beard–nominated chefs, visual artists of nearly every medium, and a tight-knit community suppo

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