2026 Special Exhibits:
“Contemporary Studio Glass”
The Studio Glass Movement began in America in the 1960s with the introduction of small glass furnaces and easy to melt glass that allowed individual glass artists to work independently outside industrial factories. The movement redefined glass from a functional or decorative material into a medium for artistic expression. Today, Studio Glass has become a respected field within contemporary art. This exhibit includes 49 objects made by 28 glass artists, eight of whom are women and four of whom are native American glass artists. The objects showcase a broad range of artistic styles and techniques, often with whimsical themes. This exhibit will be on view through September 6, 2026.
“1850-1880: Thirty Years of American Cut and Engraved Glass Innovation”
This exhibit highlights cut and engraved glass designs by the Dorflinger companies and their competitors from the 1850s, including examples from the Franklin Pierce White House service. Glassware on display from the 1860s includes examples from the Lincoln state glass service produced by the Dorflinger Glass Company in Brooklyn, New York in 1861. Glassware from the 1870s includes examples of designs exhibited at the 1876 Philadelphia Exposition as well as examples from the golden age of American glass engraving. Please note that this exhibit is in the Early Glass Gallery in the Dorflinger Factory Office and is only accessible by a set of stairs.
“Images of Hawley, Pennsylvania”
This exhibit features historic photographs of the village of Hawley, Pennsylvania from the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries taken by Louis Hensel, a noted Hawley photographer. This is the second exhibit at the museum of prints from the Marshall collection of Hensel glass negatives. The Marshall collection is owned by the Hawley Library, and custodial care and management of the collection is provided by the Dorflinger Factory Museum under a long-term agreement between the Library and the Museum. This special exhibit has been underwritten by Kate and Doug Hayes and Marilyn Costa. We are grateful for their support. This exhibit will be on display from November 4 through December 15, 2026.
Special Concert by Invitation:
In keeping with our ongoing celebration of America’s semiquincentennial, on Saturday, October 24, 2026, at 2:00 PM, pianist Emily Martin will present a program of American music. Emily has been a frequent performer at the Dorflinger Factory Museum, and we are delighted to have her back again this year to present this exciting program.
2026 Walter B. Barbe Memorial Lecture Series
June 28, 2026 – 2:00 P.M.
Kurt Reed, Curator, Dorflinger Factory Museum. Behind our Famous Glassmakers (O’Connor and Dorflinger) was an Unknown Agent. This lecture will discuss the significant role that an agent played in the development of the cut glass industry.
July 19, 2026 – 2:00 P.M.
Jim Asselstine, Director, Dorflinger Factory Museum. Christian Dorflinger’s Innovative Presidential Glassware. This lecture will discuss the glassware designs made by the Dorflinger companies for the White House from the Lincoln Administration through the Wilson Administration.
August 2, 2026 – 2:00 P.M.
James Lansing, Curator, The Everhart Museum. Dorflinger Glass in the Collection of the Everhart Museum. This lecture will discuss the extensive collection of Dorflinger glassware at The Everhart Museum.
August 16, 2026 – 2:00 P.M.
Jim Asselstine, Director, Dorflinger Factory Museum. The Philadelphia Centennial Exposition of 1876 and the Birth of the American Brilliant Period of Cut Glass. This lecture will discuss the innovative glassware designs exhibited by the American glass industry and their role in developing the American Brilliant Period.
August 30, 2026 – 2:00 P.M.
Mary Ann Moran Savakinus, Director, The Lackawanna Historical Society. Haunted Scranton. This lecture will discuss the history of haunted structures in the City of Scranton.
Dorflinger White Mills Brilliant Weekend:
The Dorflinger Factory Museum will hold its annual White Mills Brilliant Weekend on September 17-20, 2026. Our Brilliant Weekend will include a celebration of the museum’s tenth anniversary. The Brilliant Weekend includes an opening reception in the Dorflinger Factory Museum, a Dorflinger glass symposium featuring a day of lectures and banquet, and a Glass Dealer Show & Sale featuring six of the leading American cut glass dealers in the country. Advance registration is required for the Brilliant Weekend, and there is a registration fee of $125 per person, which includes all event activities. This year, we are also offering two new flexible Brilliant Weekend options. If you are unable to attend all the Brilliant Weekend activities, you may attend the Friday banquet only for a fee of $60 per person. You may attend the Friday lectures and lunch only for a fee of $50 per person. Additional details on the lecture program, and registration materials will be available shortly. The Glass Dealer Show & Sale is open to the public with a $5 per adult admission fee. Show hours are 10:00 am – 5:00 pm on Saturday, and 10:00 am – 3:00 pm on Sunday.
Fall Foliage Antiques Show
The Dorflinger Factory Museum will host our annual Fall Foliage Antiques Show on October 10 and 11, 2026. This show features a wide range of antiques, including jewelry, silver, glass, ceramics, porcelain, textiles, paintings, prints, and furniture. Show hours are 10:00 am – 4:00 pm on Saturday, and 10:00 am – 3:00 pm on Sunday. There is a $5 per adult admission charge for this show.