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Corning is in the Finger Lakes district of southern New York, a half-hour away from Watkins Glen (famous for race cars and a gorge with waterfalls) and about an hour south of Rochester.
We discovered Corning in 1982, driving home from Florida. Although we only stayed overnight that time, we have been back many times since. Its main attraction is the Corning Museum of Glass.
Steuben Tower
We took the tour, saw the current exhibits, and especially liked the modern and the art deco glass.
Corning and I have a long, happy history. Because I discovered it in 1982, and bought a piece of
Steuben Glass for a relative's wedding present, I was put on the Steuben mailing list. In that way, I found out about a Toronto exhibit of one of the Steuben designers, James Houston.
And that lead to my writing and publishing a profile of James Houston for enRoute magazine!
Cityscape
After a hurricane and flood in 1972, the city revitalized its Victorian-era buildings on
Market Street. Visiting Market Street is like stepping back in time, with the old-fashioned facades and the quaint signs. There are lots of antique stores and, of course, plenty of places to buy glass items.
Vitrix Glass
My favourite store has an owl on its gable! I've named him Rocky after the Rockwell Museum.
Rocky the Owl - click to enlarge picture
I still use Corningware in my kitchen, and remember this museum. Thanks for the photos!
ReplyDeleteWe use M's mother's Corningware in the microwave. The Corningware store is still there, although Steuben sadly went out of business a couple of years ago.
DeleteOooh, lovely photos! We used to buy all our special glassware for labs from Corning. Vijaya
ReplyDeleteThanks, Vijaya. Interesting that glass can be as practical as it can be beautiful.
DeleteMy article on James Houston is in the museum's research library; I donated it. :-)
Very cool. I'm glad you shared (I know nothing about New York, though I've heard of Corningware, of course). :)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Robin. I think you'd enjoy visiting Corning and it's especially kid-friendly.
DeleteI posted the map because of you! :-)
Edited to add: Robin, your family might like hiking the gorge at Watkins Glen. There are 19 waterfalls. It's a hard hike. We did it in the 80s, but we couldn't do it today.
DeleteMarket Street looks interesting. Just the sort of place I'd seek out in my travels.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you liked it, Claudine.
DeleteWhat a fun trip!
ReplyDeleteWe've talked many times about visiting Corning on a tip to the Northeast, but for one reason and another, it's never happened. Now I'm even more eager to see it. For sure, I'd look for your article article on James Houston at the museum! And...of course I'd also be on the lookout for Rocky the Owl!
Thanks for sharing your travels with us.
I hope you get there some day, Melodye. I'm sure you'd love it.
DeleteI love "Cityscape." Thanks for introducing us to Corning, Barb!
ReplyDeleteSusan
"Cityscape" is M's favourite, with the exception of the couple of Steuben owls.
DeleteI'll post a pic of my new glass owl soon. :-)