We are visiting the Corning Museum of Glass in Corning, NY for a second time. We had last visited in 2005 and much has changed in the intervening 20 years.

The museum was established in 1951 as a not-for-profit to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Corning Glass. The museum is has two exhibit spaces, a library and a maker space. The oldest exhibit space features its permanent glass collection containing over 50,000 glass objects spanning 3500 years of human history. The Rakow Research Library which is dedicated to glass art, history, and science of glassworking is also housed at the museum. Access to the library is by appointment only.

Added since we last visited in 2005, is a 100,000 sf exhibit area showcasing contemporary works of glass art and 60,000 sf expansion of Corning’s glass art creation workshop known as The Studio.  Glass art is researched, created and exhibited at the Corning Museum.

We returned to see a special exhibit featuring a collaboration between the Weitzman School of Design of the University of Pennsylvania, Villanova University, The City College of New York and the University of Technology in Vienna. The collaboration created a prototype of a Glass Bridge to inspire design professionals to explore strategies to use building materials that require less energy to produce than concrete or steel. Each step on the bridge can support 36,000 pounds. The structure is modular and its components are reusable. The bridge modules are hollow, which reduces the energy needed to manufacture them.

Unfortunately, the Glass Bridge: the Penn Monument for Hope exhibit ended in September 2025. You can read and see more about this prototype bridge from a Penn Today article.

There is so much to take in at the museum that we highly recommend that you plan a two-day stay. Fortunately, tickets are valid for a two consecutive day visit. Persons under 17 years old are free. Corning also offers a “make your own glass hands-on experience” which is held in The Studio. Visitors can choose from hot glass working, glass blowing, and glass fusing. Purchase tickets well in advance for this experience.

Our favorites from the Contemporary Gallery

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Our favorites for the Permanent Collection

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There is ample free parking for cars and a dedicated parking lot for RVs of all sizes. The museum does charge an entry fee, which as mentioned is good for two days. There is a large gift shop and nice restaurant so you can spend the entire day.

We hope you had a nice Thanksgiving with family and friends.