Cameron County Artisan Center
Emporium, PA
What you’ll find inside:
A PA Wilds marketplace: The Artisan Center’s retail gallery features handmade work by 70+ artists: woodturning and carving, jewelry, textiles, pottery, photography, painting, soaps, candles, leather goods, and small gifts that make it easy to “take home a piece of Cameron County.” Each maker has a dedicated display with a photo and short biography so visitors can connect names and faces with the work they’re holding.
Classes, demos, and creative meet‑ups: Throughout the year, the Center hosts workshops in fiber arts, painting, jewelry, seasonal crafts, and more—inviting both locals and visitors to learn directly from PA Wilds artisans. These events turn the shop into a studio and gathering space, lowering the barrier for anyone who wants to try making something for the first time.
Visitor center for the heart of the PA Wilds: As the Cameron County Chamber of Commerce & Artisan Center, the space doubles as the county’s visitor hub—offering maps, trail information, and guidance on dark‑sky viewing, elk‑watching, paddling, and hiking throughout this part of the Wilds, alongside business resources for people looking to launch or relocate a venture in Emporium.
PA Wilds creativity on one small‑town Main Street
Our Mission: Celebrate and sustain Cameron County’s creative community by giving artisans a year‑round home to sell their work, offering hands‑on classes, and welcoming visitors to discover the PA Wilds through locally made art and craft.
Opened by the Cameron County Chamber of Commerce in 2008 as one of the original stops on the PA Wilds Artisan Trail, the Artisan Center began with just a handful of makers and has grown into a storefront representing more than 70 artisans from Cameron County and across the PA Wilds region. In 2024, the Center moved into the former Cabin Kitchen building at 24 West 4th Street, sharing space with Pennsylvania CareerLink and Northern Pennsylvania Regional College—linking creativity, education, and workforce under one roof.
Community Impact:
The Artisan Center is more than a shop; it’s a downtown anchor. By drawing travelers into Emporium’s business district and giving local makers a professional storefront, it keeps creative dollars circulating close to home.
Supported by the Wilds Cooperative of Pennsylvania and the Lumber Heritage Region, the Center:
Provides a permanent, low‑overhead sales outlet for dozens of rural artisans who might not otherwise have access to a Main Street storefront.
Offers classes and demonstrations that help residents see themselves as part of the region’s creative economy, not just observers of it.
Hosts signature events like Weekend in the Wilds (the first Saturday in July) and Christmas in the Wilds (the first Saturday in December), which fill Emporium’s streets with vendors, food, music, and shoppers and spotlight local makers during peak tourism and holiday seasons.
Whether you drop in for a quick souvenir or spend an afternoon talking with artists about their work, the Cameron County Artisan Center makes it clear that in this dark‑skies corner of the PA Wilds, creativity is one of the community’s brightest lights.