July 13, 2021
Corning and Elmira NY
I was in need of a mini vacation, and wished desperately to get out of the house, so I started looking into things to do with in a few hours from home. The thing is, I have been to so many places locally, I needed to seek out something a little different. An advertisement for the Corning Museum of Glass had presented itself on tv one day, and my local library provides a free 3 day pass to the museum, so I got the pass and headed south to Corning NY. It was just about a two hour drive from my home and I left super early in the morning, making my arrived timed ticket for 9am. (due to COVID admission had to be timed). I have been to this museum before many years ago when the kids were little. There had been some summer kids promotion at the time, so all of the kids got in free with an adult admission, but this was at least 15 years ago. Having been that long ago, I knew things had to have changed somewhat. It had actually. This made it like a brand new experience.
Once I checked in I began my self guided tour on the main floor. This appeared to be modern pieces. I really enjoyed them. This red glass with BIRDs resembles blood spilled in shard like pieces.
This piece reminded me of TRANSFORMERS with a special secret. Look close and you will see tiny mountain climbers scaling the creatures heart.
I thought this guy was cool. Then I saw what it really is.
I'm not sure what we are looking at here.
this either.
This piece called to me. The spirit leaving the body.
This basket is actually hundreds of thousand of strung glass beads. Insane.
Don't cry over spilt milk.
Further along I entered the area of functional glass. Glass used in microscopes, bottles and enginering.
When I think about glass, this is what I imagine. The blown glass art pieces.
Up next I entered into more modern pieces as well as some heritage pieces.
Pretty NEAT stuff!!!!
More beaded pieces.
This was one of my favorite. Cut to resemble a city scape at sunset.
I retuned to catch the first glass demonstration. This women provided information on creating a tiny little penguin.
The process is pretty interesting. Using rods of glass heated until it melts then pulling the glass to mold into the shape you are looking for. Different colored glass will give definition to the piece.
After the show, I went into the older glass pieces. Up 1st Tiffany Glass. Tiffany Glass refers to the pieces made between 1878-1933 at Tiffany Studios in NY. Owner and founder of the company was Louis Comfort Tiffany.
Although this was not Tiffany Glass this elder piece of a mermaid was stunning.
I thought this creepy little devil could stay in his glass box.
Stained glass. Amazing
Crystal glass, which is made using cuts of lead in the heating process, became fashionable during the 18th century.
Royalty and the wealthy would infuse the glass with precious metals like gold and silver.
I really found I enjoyed this museum much more then I expected. The pieces are incredibly beautiful and impressive. I ended my time at the museum about 1130 and was not ready to head home quite yet. I knew that Mark Twain/ Samuel Clemons had written several of his famous novels while summering in Elmira NY and that he was buried with his him and good friend in this same town. I mapquested the grave site and made my way to Elmira NY. Woodlawn Cemetery is also where his wife and children are buried.
I payed my respects before heading into town to the relocation of Mark Twain's study on the campus of Elmira College.
I was fortunate that during this visit there was a guide available to answer questions and provide information while visiting. Apparently Clemens (or Twain) had befriended a young Charles Langdon of Elmira and spotted a picture of his older sister Olivia. He was immediately "smitten". I had joked with my guide that it was the old fashion days of Tender. (He didn't laugh)
Twain insisted he call on her. Soon they were married. He and his wife would summer in Elmira. Olivia despised his cigar smoking, which he would do while writing. It was suggested that a study be built for his writing. His little study was once butted up against a stone quarry and later was donated to the college and moved to its current location.
A list of the novels he wrote while in this very study.
I absolutely loved Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn. I remember both reading the books as a child and watching the Tom Sawyer movie. I wanted to be Jodie Foster (Becky Thatcher) so badly. I loved that 1973 movie and I bet I could sing some of the songs.
The college also has an indoor museum, which I briefly glanced at as there was a function going on at the campus. The college itself is beautiful. I had actually considered going here for my undergraduate degree, but returned to Cazenovia College.
Feeling like I had a full day of exploration I decided on finding a quick eatery and headed on my way back home. It was an impressive day and I enjoyed the time doing something like this solo. I have decided that I need to continue to take such adventures as I hope to be traveling more often solo in the future. Until then, TTFN
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