Sandwich Glass Museum in Sandwich MA
If you have free day on your vacation week down the Cape, a fun place to check out is the Sandwich Glass Museum. The glass museum is a fascinating place to visit even on a sunny day as the light coming from the windows make the glass sparkle. Rainy days work as well a visit will take you between 90 minutes to 2 hours. You can learn about the history of glass as well as see some new exhibits. It is an absolutely beautiful museum to visit.
The Sandwich Historical Society and Glass Museum interpret the history of the town and its glass industry. Exhibits of glass and historical items tell the story of the town’s greatest contribution to the American Industrial Revolution. Displays offer more than 6,000 pieces, in fifteen galleries, created by the different glass companies in Sandwich during the 19th and 20th centuries. The Museum also includes daily glassblowing demonstrations, a multi-media theater, a contemporary glass gallery, and special exhibitions. Located in the heart of Sandwich village, the Museum houses a dazzling Museum Store featuring contemporary glass artists as well as reproductions. The Museum Store offers perfumes, jewelry, paperweights, vases and ornaments. In addition visitors can view the intriguing world of glassblowing and interact with out glassblowers as they demonstrate their craft in all its complexity. Family friendly and interactive, this unique museum is a “must” during your visit.
Glassblowing Demonstrations
This is a definitely a highlight of your museum visit Watch molten glass, drawn from the furnace, blown and pressed into exquisite shapes. Learn why the Boston & Sandwich Glass Company led the world in the manufacture of glass during the early 19th century. The glassblower selects someone from each audience to press an actual piece of glass. The 20 minute demonstration takes place every hour on the hour with plenty of time for questions afterward. Even if you have seen glassblowing before this up close, hands on demonstration is truly enthralling for adults and mesmerizing for children
The Sandwich Glass Museum exhibits nearly 6,000 pieces of glass produced at the Boston & Sandwich Glass Company between 1825 and 1888. Natural light pours through the spectacular colors as other exhibits describe how substantial Sandwich’s contributions were at the dawn of the Industrial Revolution.
Special events
Special Exhibits “From the Maker’s Hands” & “Nina Sutton” at The Sandwich Glass Museum
Feb 1, 2025 – Mar 30, 2025 Wednesday through Sunday 9:30 am – 4 pm
Sandwich Glass Museum, 129 Main Street, Sandwich MA
“From the Makers’ Hands” aims to highlight the sometimes-overlooked individual contributions of the workers at the Boston and Sandwich Glass Factory. This special exhibit features journals, sketchbooks and decorating supplies used by the heretofore unsung creative team at the factory. And in the adjoining gallery, special exhibit “Nina Sutton” displays the unique and hand-made jewelry crafted by Sandwich resident Nina Baer Sutton decades after the factory closed down. Her creations feature fragments of old Sandwich Glass dug up at the factory site, combined with hand worked silver and gold details. For more information, see https://sandwichglassmuseum.org/pages/from-the-makers-hands-nina-sutton.
_________________________________
The Glass Experience at the Sandwich Glass Museum
The Museum galleries are closed for the month of January. We are however open for Glass Experiences! Book yours today!
Jan 1, 2025 – Jan 30, 2025 10, noon, 2 and 4 Tuesdays, Wednesdays & Thursdays.
Feb 1, 2025 – Mar 31, 2025 3:30-5pm, Tuesdays, Thursdays & Saturdays.
Apr 1, 2025 – Dec 31, 2025 4:30-6pm, Tuesdays, Thursdays & Saturdays.
Sandwich Glass Museum, 129 Main Street, Sandwich MA
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to blow glass? Find out for yourself at the Glass Experience offered by the Sandwich Glass Museum. Our experienced glass blowers will coach you through the process of creating a glass art souvenir, which will be ready for pick up or shipping the very next day. We offer weekday classes in January and continue to offer Glass Experience early evening classes throughout the year. For more information and to book a time please visit https://sandwichglassmuseum.org/pages/glass-experience.
The Sandwich Glass Museum of the Sandwich Historical Society is a Town History Museum with an extensive historical collection of glass and other Victorian era artifacts, multimedia exhibits, a working hot glass studio featuring hourly live glass blowing demonstrations, and contemporary studio glass art galleries and gift shop. Originally founded to interpret the history of the Boston & Sandwich Glass Company, the Museum now also celebrates and showcases contemporary glass makers’ art and craft and the enduring relevance of glass blowing to the Town of Sandwich and the surrounding area. For more information, please visit https://sandwichglassmuseum.org/.
Women in Glassmaking History
Featuring a talk presented by Olivia Padula, Curator of Collections for the Sandwich Glass Museum, about women working in the Boston & Sandwich Glass Company factory in the 19th century, followed by a talk by Yukimi Matsumoto, contemporary glass artist, on her personal journey as a glassblower in the 21st century.
Light refreshments will be served
SCHEDULE:
5-5:30 mix & mingle
5:30-6 lectures by Olivia & Yukimi
6-6:30 glass blowing demo
6:30-7 Q&A, meet the historian and artist
Please Note: Sandwich Glass Museum members will be admitted free of charge
Winter Hours
February 1 – March 30
Monday – Tuesday: Closed
Wednesday – Sunday: 9:30 am – 4:00 pm
In order to see everything the Museum has to offer, we recommend that you plan to arrive no later than 2:30 pm.
OPEN
- Washington’s Birthday
CLOSED
- Easter Sunday
Glassblowing demonstrations are given every hour on the hour.
For more information visit the Sandwich Glass Museum
