Qualla Arts and Crafts Mutual, Inc. was founded in 1946 to promote the development, production, and marketing of unique and authentic Cherokee arts and crafts, and it became one of the oldest Native American cooperatives in the United States. Soon after its formation, the organization rented a storefront on Highway 441 a few miles from its present location, and in 1949 it was juried into the Southern Highland Handicraft Guild. In 1954 the co-op took its current name when it was formally incorporated under the State of North Carolina. It moved to its present location in 1960, began organizing exhibitions in 1969 to showcase members' work, and basket weaver Eva Wolfe was the first person to have her work exhibited. In 1976 the building was renovated with large windows, native stone, and a new exhibit gallery. In its earliest days, baskets were the mainstay of the young artisan cooperative, accounting for half its sales. Today it continues to attract collectors from around the world and represents artists working in a variety of media, with all items in the store being authentic, handmade Native American crafts and the majority of the work coming from Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians members.