Museum of Connecticut Glass announces open house dates for 2026 and annual Tailgate Bottle and Glass

The Museum of Connecticut Glass will be offering several open house events for 2026. The events are usually held on the third Saturday of the month from May through September, from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Turner House (also known as the Turner-Stebbins-Chamberlain House) at 290 North River Road (at the intersection with Route 44) in Coventry. The 2026 dates are:

Saturday, May 16

Saturday, June 13 (this is also CT Open House Day)

Saturday, July 18

Saturday, August 15

Saturday, September 19

Saturday, October 10 (also the museum’s annual Tailgate Bottle and Glass Show, starting at 8:00 a.m.)

Visitors will be able to tour the historic Turner house, a brick Federal-style structure built circa 1812/1814 for John Turner, one of several incorporators of the Coventry Glass Company, which made and sold a variety of bottles and other glass products from about 1813 to 1848. Turner was later one of the founders of the Ellenville Glass Company in New York state. That company was organized in 1836 by a group of glass makers from Coventry and Willington, Connecticut. Visitors will also be able to tour the 1935 barn at 289 North River Road (across the street). Both buildings contain exhibits of antique bottles and other antique glass objects and feature a rather extensive collection of Connecticut-made glass bottles – our newest and most interesting exhibit. Museum members will be on hand to answer questions about the glass-manufacturing process and the importance of glass in the early Connecticut economy. All open house events are free and held rain or shine.

The October 10 open house will be in conjunction with the annual Tailgate Bottle and Glass Show from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. At least 30 vendors from throughout the northeast are expected to have tables with a large quantity of bottles, glass, stoneware, and antique items for sale. This event is co-sponsored by the Southern Connecticut Antique Bottle & Glass Collectors Association. And at this event, the museum will have a special table of old and unique bottles from which visitors can choose items for a small suggested donation. Books will also be available, with donations helping to support the museum and purchases help support the museum. While admission to the open house event is free, regular admission to the show is $4.00 (after 9:00 a.m.) and early admission is $15.00 (8 a.m. to 9 a.m.). Will be held rain or shine. For further information about this event, including dealer inquiries, contact Greg at 203-271-1181 or Disposable1521@att.net.

About the Museum of Connecticut Glass:The Museum of Connecticut Glass, established in February 1994, is headquartered at the historic Turner House, built circa 1813, in Coventry, Connecticut. The museum's location is significant as it is one of the last remaining sites on the National Historic Glass Factory District. The museum focuses on the glassmaking industry in Coventry, which was active from approximately 1814 to 1848. The museum’s mission is to exhibit, preserve, research, and educate about historic glass and glassmaking in the numerous glassworks of Connecticut. More information can be found at https://www.glassmuseum.org.