TIFFIN, Ohio — Toledo is well known as the Glass City. But, Tiffin could have claimed that title as well.
After being closed recently for renovations, cleaning and general reorganization, the Tiffin Glass Museum officially reopened Wednesday. It is now open Wednesday through Sunday from 12-4 p.m.
It was founded and operated in 1998 by the Tiffin Glass Collectors Club and showcases the wide array of glasswork that used to be Tiffin's primary industry.
Unlike most other industrialized glass factories of the era, Tiffin was known around the world for mass-producing up to 100,000 pieces of hand-blown glass per week.
There were "45 workstations of glass blowers and their assistants gathering glass, passing the pipe along, blowing the glass and then finishing it off with other people," Paul Coffman, president of the Tiffin Glass Collectors Club, said. "7-9 people could have been working at each workstation. Tiffin was the largest hand-blown glass factory in the United States for a period of years."
This year, the museum is celebrating its 25th anniversary.
Over time, it has become a tourist attraction in the glass collector's community, bringing in visitors from over 42 states and over 30 countries.
Coffman said about 85% of museum visitors are from out of town.
A visit to the museum is also a chance to showcase the other offerings Tiffin and Seneca County have. Bryce Riggs, executive director of Destination Seneca County, said Coffman often gives museum visitors other interesting sights to stop and see.
As part of the museum's 25th anniversary, the gift shop will offer a special on different glassware every month through the end of the year.