COVID-19 Health & Safety

When should I purchase my admission ticket? 
We encourage advanced ticket registration online.

My admission ticket is for a specific time. Do I have to be there right on time?  
We ask that you arrive within the 30-minute window following the entrance time on your ticket.   

Can I stay for the rest of the day once I enter?
Yes, your ticket will be good for the remainder of the day.  

Are tickets still good for two consecutive days? 
Yes! Tickets are good for two consecutive days and a guest can stay as long as they like. When returning the following day, please check in at the Admissions desk with your admission ticket or receipt. You will not need a new reservation. 

Can I purchase tickets in person?  
We strongly encourage guests to plan your visit by purchasing tickets online in advance. Some tickets will be sold at the door each day. 

What if I am at the Museum and didn’t purchase a ticket in advance?  
You can still purchase your ticket online even if you’re physically at the Museum. Just visit our website and see what timeslot is available next. Alternatively, tickets will be sold at the door. 

I am a Museum Member and receive free admission as part of my membership. Do I still need to reserve a ticket? 
We encourage our Members to reserve free tickets in advance on our website, but you can also show your membership card at our Admissions Desk.     

Are you allowing tour buses?  
We are currently accepting tour groups. Learn more. 

Will I be able to take a guided tour of the Museum?  
For now, all tours are self-guided.  

Do I need to reserve an Admissions ticket to visit the Museum Shops? 
No. Shoppers are welcome, as long as unvaccinated guests wear masks as required by NYS mandate. 

Ask about the combination ticket with the nearby Rockwell Museum. Visit both museums and save!

Is your Welcome Center open?
The Welcome Center will be open May 22 to September 6, 2021. The main parking lot at the Welcome Center will remain open after September 6. The shuttle bus will run from the Welcome Center to the main museum and will make a stop in downtown Corning. 

Is the Rakow Research Library open?
The Rakow Research Library is open by appointment only between 10 am and 4 pm Monday through Thursday.

Is your Café open?  
Yes, our Café is open with a variety of dining and seating options.

Is The Shops open?  
Yes, the entire retail section of the Museum is open. Admission is not required to shop.

Is the shuttle bus running downtown?  
Yes, the shuttle bus transports guests between the Welcome Center, the Museum, and Downtown Market Street. 

Do you have any interactive displays?  Yes. Touch elements and interactive displays have returned, with rigorous cleaning protocols in place and sanitizers in close proximity.

Will Gallery Activity Sheets be distributed? 
Our gallery activities encourage kids (and adults!) to be glass detectives throughout the Museum's galleries. Activity sheets will be provided at the Museum, or guests can download and print the sheets at home. 

How is the air quality and circulation at the Museum, both in staff areas and general visitor areas?  
The Museum has excellent air filtration that meets or exceeds most recommended requirements. Our HVAC is operated in accordance with ASHRAE Guidance for Building Operations during the COVID-19 Pandemic. All air handler units with a final filter rated below MERV13 are set as close as possible to 100% outside air while still maintaining the climate necessary to protect our collections and the comfort of our visitors and staff. Additional air filters will soon be upgraded to a minimum MERV13 rating, the minimum efficiency reporting value for "superior" commercial buildings.    

Do you still feature live glassblowing?  
Yes, absolutely. We want to ensure that everyone can experience the beauty of live glassmaking when they come to The Corning Museum of Glass.

Are the Hot Glass Demos different?  
There are revised traffic flow patterns in our hot shops, and we ask our unvaccinated guests to practice social distancing when seating themselves.  

Are the Flameworking Demo different? 
Flameworking is a pass-through experience and no longer a timed demonstration. A skilled flameworker will work 40 minutes each hour and will narrate the process. Large monitors allow visitors to see the action, even if they’re not close to the working artist.   

Will you be welcoming Guest Artists?  
At this time, we will be featuring only the Museum’s Hot Glass Demo Team.  

Are there any other demo changes to be aware of? 
At this time, we are not offering the Optical Fiber and Glass Breaking demonstrations. 

Will we be able to make our own glass?  
Yes, we are offering Make Your Own Glass projects at The Studio. Reservations are required and we encourage online ticket purchases to book your experience, as project availability is limited.  All unvaccinated guests must wear a mask in the Make Your Own Glass project area.

What projects will be available?  
We are currently offering fusing, sandblasting, and blown-glass projects with protocols in place to allow for social distancing and reduced contact. 

Will I be able to blow glass?  
We have reintroduced "blown" glass projects at The Studio, using an alternate inflation device that attaches to the blowpipe and is operated with a foot pedal, ensuring the safety of our guests and staff. 

Can my children make glass?  
Yes. Fusing is available to ages 4+, and sandblasting and blown-glass projects are suitable for all ages. For sandblasting, participants will decorate their glass, and staff will sandblast it. 

Where should I go for my Make Your Own Glass project?  
Most projects take place at The Studio, just across the parking lot from the main Museum building. During summer, sandblasting projects take place in the Education Lab. Some blown-glass projects will take place in the Make Your Own Glass Pavilion, through October. 

Do I need to purchase Make Your Own Glass tickets in advance?  
Reservations are required for all Make Your Own Glass experiences. Spots are limited, so we encourage advanced online purchase of your Make Your Own Glass tickets. 

If I only purchase Make Your Own Glass tickets, do I have to go check in at the Admissions Desk?  
 No, you can go directly to The Studio to have your tickets printed for all Make Your Own Glass projects.

Do I need to wear a mask while making glass?
All unvaccinated individuals in the Make Your Own Glass project area must wear a mask for the duration of the project, including children ages 2-11, who are currently ineligible for vaccination.

I am a researcher and would like to use the Rakow Library. Will it be open to me? 
The Rakow Research Library will be open by appointment only between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday for U.S. residents and domestic travelers. Use our Plan Your Visit guide to make an appointment.