Adventures at the Corning Glass Museum

Corning Museum of Glass is near us, and is fascinating. They make glass wire that is stronger than steel. I started to write about glass vs. copper wire, etc. but I don't know that I understand it all well enough to expound upon it here. Anyway, glass is cool. They have an extensive collection of historical glass pieces that we have yet to view. These pictures are from the first time we went to Corning last August.  (I'm still getting caught up.)  I wrote about our experience on Facebook, and will repost that here:

The other day we went to the Corning Glass Museum. (We've packed as many outings into this summer as we possibly could!) We started the day at a glass blowing demonstration in the main auditorium. At the conclusion, they did two drawings for a couple of beautiful things they'd made, and the kids were really disappointed when we didn't win. So we went to that presentation again. (They make new things each time, so it was still amazing to watch.) After two more times of enjoying the presentations but not winning, I said we were done, and we went and tried other interactive exhibits and demonstrations. Later, we were ready to go and there was one more glass-blowing show starting, so I let them try one more time. It really is kind of intense, as you sit clutching your raffle ticket and waiting for him to call out a number.  The man drew the winning tickets and we still didn't win. Then he announced that they had two more items that they'd give away. (I have to admit that I was praying- I started after Maggie sadly said, "Why did I lose?") They called out the numbers, and we won both! One was a large vase and one was a scalloped bowl. The kids argued over who got to carry them and have continued to hold them ever since. They all agreed it was the best day ever.

We parked in a parking lot that had a shuttle bus, which the kids enjoyed.

Here are the kids at the entrance. 

These two men alternated doing the glass blowing during the presentations.  The vase he's making looks like the beginning of the vase we won.

And here are the conquering heroes with their trophies.  I wish we could have won  another while Mom was there with us!