5 handmade stops along Route 40

Wanna submit your own 5 handmade stops in a county or town or region of PA?  Just send five links to nick@pacrafts.org.  This one comes from Susan Brimo-Cox with Chestnut Ridge Studio and Forge.

The stretch of Route 40 in southwestern Pennsylvania—The National Road—is part of the “Handmade Along the Highway” Artisan Trail. Route 40 passes through Pennsylvania from Keyser’s Ridge in Maryland westward through Uniontown, PA, and further on to Ohio. If you are ever in the area, here are five worth visiting. In fact, they are worth making the trip just to see them!

1 – Fallingwater – Frank Lloyd Wright’s iconic Fallingwater is located not far from Route 40, between Ohiopyle and Mill Run on Route 381. Named one of the “50 Places of a Lifetime” by National Geographic this architectural wonder is a home cantilevered over a waterfall. From many angles, it is a structure worth seeing in all seasons.

2 –  Sculptures at Kentuck Knob – The Ohiopyle area is home to a second Frank Lloyd Wright home as well—Kentuck Knob. Designed and built for the Hagens in 1953, Kentuck Knob is a wonderful example of organic architecture. The house, the view from the top of the knob, and the many contemporary sculptures on the grounds are all top notch.

3 – Art tours at Nemacolin Woodlands Resort – You should stop by to see the art collection on display at Nemacolin Woodlands Resort and Spa in Farmington, PA. Valued at more than $45 million, the Hardy Family Art Collection consists of nearly 1,000 items, including paintings, sculpture, furniture and more. You can see works from contemporary masters to rare Audubon prints daily at 3 pm as part of their art tours.

4 –  The Frank L. Melega Art Museum – The museum in Brownsville, PA, showcases the regionally-inspired artwork of local artist Frank L. Melega. The museum also features guest artist exhibits.

5 – Touchstone Center for Crafts – Pittsburgh likes to claim it*, but Touchstone is in Farmington and it’s a great place for beginning and experienced artists alike. Instructors from across the country, as well as students from near and far, come together at this rustic haven in the woods to learn new skills, hone artistic techniques, and experiment with new ones. Weekend and weeklong classes are offered.

Where would you go from here? Share your favorite handmade stops on Route 40 in the comment section below.

*Editor’s Note: I’m not getting in the middle of this.