Corning Museum of Glass

Founded in 1951, the Corning Museum of Glass showcases the artistry, history, and science of glass. The museum includes works representing historical practices and celebrates the technological advances that have impacted modern glass production. Check out the Contemporary Art + Design Wing to discover how glass is used in design, and stop by the demo room for more hands-on fun: the museum’s Hot Glass Demos are a great way to discover how artisans make—and manipulate—glass, and the glass breaking and flameworking demos are a hit too. You can also book a class to learn about glassmaking fundamentals.

Some multi-day tours of the Niagara region from Boston include a stop at the museum.

• The Corning Museum of Glass is a must for art lovers, especially those interested in glassmaking, and families with children.

• To avoid waiting in entry lines, purchase admission tickets in advance online.

• Kids ages 17 years old and younger are admitted for free. Adult admission is good for two consecutive days.

• There is free Wi-Fi throughout most areas of the museum’s campus.

• The museum is accessible to wheelchairs, and free wheelchairs are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

The museum is located in the Finger Lakes region of upstate New York, about a 5-hour drive from New York City. Bus service runs daily from Manhattan’s Port Authority Bus Terminal; take the ShortLine bus to the Corning Transportation Center.

The museum is open from 9am to 5pm September through May, and until 8pm in summer. It is closed on New Year’s Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day.

The museum’s Optical Fiber Demo is essential for kids and families interested in physics, optics, and communications technology. In the 15-minute demo, you learn about the role glass plays in current technology while transmitting digital information across the globe. Also discover how glass carries light, and enjoy a discussion in the Glass Innovation Center. The demo is included in the price of admission.

Visitors should plan to spend around 3 to 4 hours touring the Corning Museum of Glass and its extensive collection. Guided tours take around an hour, while glass shows and demonstrations last about 20 to 30 minutes. Make Your Glass experiences last around 15 to 45 minutes, depending on the experience.

Yes. The Corning Museum of Glass is the world’s largest glass museum. Besides an extensive collection, the museum offers glass-blowing demonstrations, Make Your Glass workshops, and a museum shop. Entrance tickets are valid for two consecutive days and offer a good value, while kids and teens receive free entry.

Yes, food is available at the Corning Museum of Glass. The on-site cafe is open from 9am to 7pm year-round and offers breakfast, lunch, snack, and beverage items, including kid-friendly fare, a coffee bar, noodle bar, pizza, soups, salads, sandwiches, hot grab-and-go options, desserts, beers, and wines.

Visitors can take natural light photos for personal use in the standard exhibition area. Photos are prohibited in special exhibition areas (marked “Do Not Photograph”) without permission. Flash, tripods, and selfie sticks are not permitted inside the museum. Photos for commercial use are prohibited.

Yes. The museum is accessible to many different types of visitors and offers accessible tours. The facilities are accessible to strollers and wheelchair users and wheelchairs are available free of charge. The museum also provides assistive listening devices, color-blind glasses, sensory backpacks, and sign-language interpreters. Service animals are also welcome.

No, visitors are not permitted to smoke inside the Corning Museum of Glass as it is smoke-free. Visitors are welcome to smoke outside of the museum and its facilities. However, smokers should try to be mindful of other visitors, especially if any children are nearby.