I took the family to Corning, NY to visit the Corning Museum of Glass. We found out that the kids get in free, and for a little extra, we could get tickets to see the Rockwell Museum of Art as well.












The tickets were 15.50 each for Zoe and I for both museums.. and the admission is free for us to return for a whole year at any time. (which we definitely will)

The Corning Glass museum was definitely of interest to me, as my dad worked at Pittsburgh Corning in Port Allegany for years.


I didn't see any information about PC in the museum, but there was a ton of glass blocks worked into the architecture.



So more than likely, these blocks were made by some of our very own readers in Port Allegany!

The museum architecture was breathtaking. Freeform design, with stainless steel and plate glass.... beautiful.



The tour started in the art museum. All the artwork was created out of glass, and there were unusual pieces, some of which were breathtaking, some just plain wierd.












My favorite part, and the most extensive part of the museum was the historical glass collection, that chronicled glass making from the dawn of civilization until the present, including these pieces from Ancient Egypt. (note the reflection behind the pharoh head)

The museum, which is attatched to the Steuben Glass Factory had a live glass blowing demonstration. The Hot Glass Show is included in the admission. They heat up glass and make beautiful pieces, and then either sell them in the gift shop, or smash them and recycle the glass. The show features cameras in the glass ovens, so that viewers can watch the glass being heated.

My Potter County born kids were most excited about the escalators. For some reason, all the glass, the hands on activities, and the fun stuff to do was not quite as much fun as riding up and down a moving staircase.

Then we headed to a learning center, where the kids could touch, and hear, and play.

Then of course the real question: What to eat. The museum had a coffee bar, and a great buffet area. We Hatcher's are a bit more resourceful. We budgeted one meal out, so that meant we had to pack a lunch so we could eat a restaurant later for dinner. The museum did have an outdoor picnic area, but it was a bit nippy out, so we found a few tables under the escalators, and broke out the picnic basket and the peanut butter and jelly.












Then we hopped on the FREE shuttle bus to visit the Rockwell Museum of Art!