COVID-19 Health & Safety

When should I purchase my admission ticket? 
Tickets must be purchased in advance. Tickets are being released on a rolling basis, with current reservation dates extending through January 31, 2021.

Can I get a refund if I need to cancel my reserved admission tickets?
We understand that planning and travel is challenging during the COVID-19 pandemic. Your admission tickets are refundable if you cancel your reservation at least 24 hours in advance of your planned visit. If you plan to reschedule your visit, please reserve a new timed ticket.

Will you have timed ticketing?  
Yes, we are implementing timed entry to manage visitor flow. Tickets will be available at half-hour intervals throughout the day. This will ensure that we do not exceed our daily capacity limit. 

My admission ticket is for a specific time. Do I have to be there right on time?  
You must 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 they return the following day, they need to return with their admission ticket, or their receipt, and will not need a new reservation. Guests returning for their second day of visit are required to check in at the Main Admissions desk.   

Can I purchase tickets in person?  
While we will sell a limited amount of tickets in person, it is our strong preference that tickets be purchased in advance as we do have strict capacity requirements and there is a chance you could be turned away due to the fact that we have already met our limit for the day.

What if I am at the Museum and didn’t purchase a ticket ahead of time?  
You can still purchase your ticket online even if you’re physically at the Museum. You will need to visit our website and see what timeslot is available next.   

I am a Museum Member and receive free admission as part of my membership. Do I still need to reserve a ticket? 
Yes, you will need to reserve your Members ticket to secure your timeslot. This helps us ensure we stay within our capacity restrictions.   

Will you accept cash?  
Electronic forms of payment help reduce touch points, but we will accept all forms of payment.  

Are you allowing tour buses right now?  
We are currently accepting bus tours of no more than 25 guests, from New York State only. Advanced reservation required. 

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

Do I need to reserve an Admissions ticket to visit the Museum Shops? 
No. Shoppers are welcome, as long as face coverings are worn and social distancing protocols are observed. All visitors who enter the Museum will walk through a temperature check to ensure they are fever free. We recommend Shops patrons enter through the Courtyard Lobby entrance.

What should I know about new New York State travel restrictions?  
With many states across the country seeing increases in COVID-19 activity, New York State now requires a 14-day quarantine for incoming travelers from states with significant community spread. A current list of states meeting the NY criteria for increased virus activity can be accessed here. Travelers arriving in New York from the designated states through all means of transport are required to complete an electronic traveler form, and may be subject to a $2,000 fine for noncompliance.    

Do the New York State travel restrictions impact my visit to the Museum? 
We’d love to welcome you to the Museum when your quarantine is complete. Learn more about the New York State quarantine requirements here.

Is there anything else I should know about the admissions process?  
We have installed plexiglass barriers wherever purchase transactions take place, including the Admissions Lobby and The Shops.   

Will your Welcome Center be open?
The Welcome Center will be closed as it is a confined space with many touch points. The main parking lot at the Welcome Center will remain open. The shuttle bus (with reduced capacity) will run from the Welcome Center to the main museum as usual and will make a stop in downtown Corning. 

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

Will your Café be open?  
Yes, our Café is open with a limited menu and limited seating to allow for social distancing. 

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

Will the shuttle bus still run downtown?  
Yes, the shuttle bus will continue to run, but at a reduced capacity of 10 people at a time. Since Market Street is currently closed to street traffic, the shuttle bus will stop at Tioga Avenue.

Will you have any interactive displays?  
Nearly all touch elements in our displays have been removed or modified.  Any remaining touchpoints have enhanced and rigorous cleaning schedules.

Will Gallery Activity Sheets be distributed? 
Our gallery activities encourage kids (and adults!) to be glass detectives throughout the Museum's galleries. Guests can download and print the sheets at home as they will not be available at the Museum. 

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.    

Will 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.

How will the Hot Glass Demos be different?  
We have established new safety protocols. There are new traffic flow patterns in our hot shops, as well as limited seating to allow for social distancing.  

How will the Flameworking Demo be different? 
The flameworking booth is now relocated to the larger Glassbreaking Demo space to allow for social distancing. Flameworking is a pass-through experience and no longer a timed demonstration. A Museum 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 flameworker.   

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. If you or a member of your party aren’t feeling well, please call us up until the time of your appointment to cancel for a full refund.

Projects are being released, for booking, on a rolling basis, with current reservation dates extending through January. All participants will be required to sanitize their hands prior to the experience and must wear a face covering for the duration of the project–even if they have provided medical documentation that exempts them from wearing a face covering for their Museum visit. 

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?  
All projects take place at The Studio, just across the parking lot from the main Museum building.  

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. Current reservation dates extend through January.  

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 participants must wear a face covering for the duration of the project with no exceptions—even if they have provided medical documentation that exempts them from wearing a face covering for their Museum visit. This provides an additional measure of safety to our guests and staff, who interact in closer proximity during projects, which are carefully configured to maximize social distancing to the degree possible. 

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. There will only be five patrons in the Rakow at a time. Click here to make an appointment. The New Glass Now | Context exhibition installed in the Rakow Library Atrium will remain closed.  

I like to sit and work at the Rakow Library. Will I be allowed to do that now? 
If you are a researcher with an appointment, you will be allowed to sit and work in the library. Otherwise, current safety measures require us to restrict the number of seats available.