Sandwich Glass Museum

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Cape Cod, Massachusetts(508) 888-0251

Hours:
Apr.-Dec., daily 9:30-5; Feb. and Mar., Wed.-Sun. 9:30-4 Close
Price:
$4.75
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The Shop Photo - Sandwich Glass Museum, Cape Cod, Massachusetts

User Reviews

Sandwich Glass Museum

by zabelle

Portland, Connecticut

December 3, 2006

Best of IgoUgo The Sandwich Glass Museum documents the history of glass making in this area. It also offers the opportunity to see a glass blowing exhibition. When you buy your entrance ticket be sure to check when the next demonstration will take place. There is ...Read more The Sandwich Glass Museum documents the history of glass making in this area. It also offers the opportunity to see a glass blowing exhibition. When you buy your entrance ticket be sure to check when the next demonstration will take place. There is a video that you can also watch in their theater. It is 23 minutes long and tells the story of the growth of the glass business as well as the history of the area.

Deming Jarves chose Sandwich for his glass factory not as you would expect because beach sand was close by (as it turns out beach sand is not appropriate for glass making) but rather for the harbor and the readily available lumber to stoke the furnaces. He brought in master glass blowers from Ireland and England as well as local New England craftsmen. Mr. Jarves perfected the glass pressing process and the cup plate became a Sandwich standard. By the 1840s and 1850s Sandwich was mass producing a wide variety of colored glassware. After the Civil War the market shifted to the mid west and Sandwich Glass began a new phase of production with a more upscale product. It was a national strike by glass workers that closed the company in 1888. Several other companies have operated in the area over the years but none came near to duplicating the success of the original.

The Museum itself is beautiful, light, bright, and filled with color. The Levine Gallery traces the history of lighting. You can enter a darkened room and one by one light up the different lamps. It is beautiful and gives a very good idea of how the world must have looked after dark before the advent of the incandescent light bulb.

The collection itself consists of more than 5,000 pieces produced by The Boston and Sandwich Glass Co. between 1825 and 1888. You will be enthralled by the displays of red, blue, yellow, and green glass as well of loads of beautiful clear glass. The wonderful purples and pinks its all just eye candy. See bowls and vases, trays and lamps and the most wonderful collection of cup plates in every color under the sun.

There is always a special exhibit. Josh Simpson "Visions of our Galaxy" was showing when we were there but is now gone. There is a small but well stocked store at the completion of your self guided tour. While the glass blowing will be fascinating for children, I think that walking through a lot of exhibits of glass may be a little too much for the young ones.

Admission is $4.75 for adults and $1 for children aged 6-12.
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Sandwich Glass Museum