This is an extraordinary moment for the New Bedford Museum of Glass! After ten years of operation in the Wamsutta mill complex, NBMOG has reopened in the spectacular James Arnold Mansion in downtown New Bedford. Known for being the home of the exclusive Wamsutta Club, the mansion is owned and maintained by a non-profit preservation organization and offers many advantages: magnificent Victorian arc
hitecture, landscaped grounds, and plentiful on-site parking – all at one of the city’s most prominent addresses. Additionally, our neighbors are several of New Bedford’s best-known cultural attractions, including the First Unitarian Church, with its monumental 200 square-foot Tiffany glass mosaic, and the elegant Rotch-Jones-Duff House and Garden Museum. Most importantly, the James Arnold Mansion served during the 1870s and 1880s as the residence of William J. Rotch, a president of New Bedford’s famous Mt. Washington Glass Company and a founding officer of the Pairpoint Mfg. This certainly places the museum in proper historical context! During the Victorian era, New Bedford was renowned as the “Art Glass Headquarters of the Country.” Rose Amber glass, Crown Milano, Royal Flemish, Burmese, and Lava glass are just a few of the exotic lines developed in New Bedford. Many fine examples are represented in the museum’s 7,000-piece collection, which surveys the history of glass from ancient times to the present day. Antique tools, including a 7-foot tall glass press, explore the fascinating technology of working glass, while dazzling masterpieces from the collection include glass by Tiffany, Steuben, Lalique, Baccarat, Sandwich, Swarovski, Waterford, and many other celebrated makers. Of particular interest is the Crystal Kingdom, an extensive collection of glass animals – always a popular hit with children! The museum’s Virginia Shaw Rockwell Research Library contains more than 12,000 volumes in ten languages and 200 shelf feet of glass subject files. A unique and growing cultural treasure for the City of New Bedford, NBMOG offers a wide range of educational programming both online and on-site, guided tours of the general collection and themed exhibitions, and gala events featuring lectures, music, and more. Uniquely curated tours are tailored for groups and clubs of all ages, with special delight in welcoming children and students from elementary through collegiate level. NBMOG has the distinction of being the only public museum of its kind in New England. Please join us as we share the beauty and history of glass! Never has there been a more exciting time to discover the New Bedford Museum of Glass!
