This is a gorgeous quilt top! You are so lucky to have inherited it.
I also inherited an old quilt top that my grandmother made. My Mom said she thought my grandmother had machine pieced it. It was definitely a scrap quilt.
I found someone who was 'selling' time on her quilting machine and machine quilted it. My inexperience with a quilting machine shows, but the completed quilt looks much better 'done on a bed' then it did in a drawer.
I will wash it in the washing machine when it needs to be washed. I 'store' it on a bed, but under a 'store bought' quilt, so the sun can't get to it and there are no folds to wear the fabric out. I do put it on top when my grandkids or grand-nieces/nephews visit so that it can get the love that it needs - and they get a dose of family history.
I purchased a plaid fabric for the backing, can't remember what batting was made of, but I think it was an 80/20 poly blend.