In 1868, the Brooklyn Flint Glass Company relocated to Corning, via the New York Waterways, and evolved into the company that is today known as Corning Incorporated. In celebration of this pivotal journey, Corning Museum of Glass presents GlassBarge – a canal barge equipped with CMoG’s patented all-electric glassmaking equipment.

During its four-month journey in 2018, GlassBarge traveled north on the Hudson, then westward along the Erie Canal, from the Albany area to Buffalo, emphasizing the continued role of New York’s waterways in shaping industry, culture, and community in New York State. See the map or the archived scheduled events page for GlassBarge stops.

In each port city, CMoG provided free glassblowing demonstrations for the public from the deck of GlassBarge. The tour concluded in the Finger Lakes, completing the journey by water in Watkins Glen.

tugboat W.O. Decker, view from aft with New York City across river
credit: Jim Henderson/Creative Commons (CC0)

GlassBarge was moved along the waterways by the historic tug W.O. Decker – part of the fleet of the South Street Seaport Museum – which also received grant funds for restoration and activation in connection with GlassBarge programming. Also accompanying GlassBarge on the journey was the Lois McClure, a replica of an 1862 canal barge, and the C.L. Churchill, a 1964 tugboat, both part of the permanent collection of the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum.

C.L. Churchill tugboat and Lois McLure canal barge from aft, docked, evening
credit: Lake Champlain Maritime Museum

The tour coincided with the Erie Canal’s Bicentennial (2017-2025)—for which GlassBarge was a 2018 signature event—as well as the centennial of the commemoration of the Barge Canal in New York State.