Discovering Market Street in Corning, NY: A Journey Through Time and Art

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Step into a world where history, art, and small-town charm converge - welcome to Market Street in Corning, NY. This 90-minute walking tour, guided by the talented local artist Meghan O’Toole, is not just a stroll; it’s a vivid exploration of a community rich in tradition, innovation, and creativity. Meghan’s deep love for Corning shines through as she shares fascinating stories about the town’s architecture, public art, and its role in America’s glass-making history.


The Market Street Memorial Sculpture: A Gateway to History
The tour begins with the Market Street Memorial Sculpture, a beautifully crafted arch designed to commemorate Corning’s Centennial. Designed by artist George Brademeyer, the arch is a whimsical blend of Corning’s industrial past and its artistic future. Each element tells a story - coal, canals, cigars, glassworks, and a castle - highlighting the town’s legacy as a glass manufacturing powerhouse. Meghan shares the town’s unique relationship with public art, emphasizing how it fosters a sense of belonging and community.


A Stroll Through Time: The Golden Triangle and Brickwork
As you move along Market Street, Meghan draws attention to the Golden Triangle - the honey locust trees that line the street, soon to turn a brilliant yellow. These trees, combined with the height and uniformity of the brick buildings, create a sense of enclosure, making the street feel like a cozy, small-town movie set. And that’s not far from the truth! Meghan, a former window display artist for the Gaffer District, reminisces about the street's transformation from a smoky, industrial hub to the vibrant cultural center it is today.

“Look up,” she urges, and you'll see a variety of intricate brickwork patterns, each building telling a different story. It’s a testament to the craftsmanship of a bygone era, preserved by the foresight of three determined women in the late 1960s who fought to keep the town's historical charm intact.

Women-Led Businesses and The Woolly Minded Yarn Store
Market Street is also home to many women-owned businesses, including the charming Woolly Minded Yarn Store. As Meghan points out, women have long been at the heart of Corning’s entrepreneurial spirit. She recalls the role women played in the town's once-thriving cigar industry- factories where cigars were famously hand-rolled by women. Today, the town's female business owners continue to infuse Market Street with creativity and resilience.


The Victorian Skyscraper, Corning’s Original "Skyscraper"
You might not expect a small town to boast a skyscraper, but Corning’s tallest building of its time - the Victorian Skyscraper - was a marvel of its era. It housed one of the first hydraulic elevators, and its ornate design features egg-and-dart symbolism, a nod to prosperity and longevity. As Meghan explains, Victorian architecture often used floral and symbolic designs to represent life, death, and rebirth - a perfect metaphor for Corning itself.

The Houghton Private Bank: A Hidden Gem of Victorian Architecture
As you continue along Market Street, you'll come across the Houghton Private Bank, a striking example of late 19th-century Victorian architecture. Built in 1889, this building features beautifully stained transom windows and intricate brickwork. Meghan explains the significance of the egg-and-dart patterns, common in Victorian architecture, which symbolize life, death, and prosperity. The Houghton family, closely tied to Corning’s industrial history, played a significant role in shaping the town, and this bank building stands as a testament to their influence. Looking up, you’ll notice the intricate details that tell a story of craftsmanship and prosperity from another era.


The Rockwell Museum and Western Art
Next, we visit the Rockwell Museum, originally Corning’s City Hall. This Smithsonian affiliate houses an impressive collection of Western art, Hudson River School landscapes, and contemporary American works. Meghan shares the museum's history, from its near demolition after Hurricane Agnes in 1972 to its renaissance as a community art hub. The beloved sculpture of a buffalo named Artemis greets visitors outside, wrapped in knitted yarn each winter by local artists - a quirky tradition that captures the town’s playful spirit.


A Living Sculpture, the Grafted Stone Fruit Tree
One of the most unique stops on the tour is a small park featuring a fascinating grafted stone fruit tree, which bears 40 different types of fruit, including plums, cherries, and peaches. This remarkable tree is not only a horticultural marvel but also a living piece of art, symbolizing the town’s innovative spirit and connection to nature. This “living sculpture” acquired by the Rockwell Museum, adding to Corning's tradition of blending art and the environment. The sculpture invites viewers to engage in thoughtful reflection, offering a beautiful intersection of nature and creativity in the heart of this small town. Meghan shares that the tree encourages conversation and community, making this park a beloved spot for locals and visitors alike.

Her favorite tourist quote, she says, came from a group from China when she asked what the tree could represent. “America,” they said. Perfect.


Artistic Legacy and Public Art: Tom Gardner’s Influence
Corning’s artistic heart beats loudly, thanks in large part to local artists like Tom Gardner. His sculptures, paintings, and dedication to public art have shaped the town’s identity. As you walk along Market Street, you’ll see several of Gardner’s works, including a bench in the park where he wanted people to sit, reflect, and engage in conversation. His gallery, the West End Gallery, continues to showcase local talent, including internationally recognized painter GC Myers.

The Vitrix Hot Glass Studio and Steuben Glass
A highlight of the tour is a visit to the Vitrix Hot Glass Studio, located in what was once the factory of renowned glass cutter TG Hawkes. Here, you can watch glassblowers create stunning pieces, continuing Corning’s legacy as a leader in glass artistry. Steuben Glass, founded by Frederick Carter, put Corning on the map with its exquisite crystal, and today, you can still see remnants of this golden age of glass in the studio’s architecture and equipment.


Browns Cigar Shop: A Step Back in Time
Stepping into Browns Cigar Shop is like walking into a preserved moment in history. This small, unassuming shop is a treasure trove of local stories and cigar-making tradition. In its heyday, Corning was home to over 12 different cigar factories, many of which were run by women. The two women depicted in one of the sculptures on Market Street pay tribute to this era, where hand-rolled cigars - famously rolled on women's thighs - were a major local industry. Browns has been in operation for generations, maintaining its original façade and even its function as a hub for local gossip and society news. Even today, the shop serves as a central meeting point, where patrons can buy cigars and engage in lively conversations about the latest happenings around town. For those interested in the history of cigars in the U.S., Browns is a must-visit.


The McClintock Bank Clock: A Piece of Art Deco History
The McClintock Bank Clock, a beautiful example of Art Deco design, once stood as a symbol of both time and trust for the citizens of Corning. Located on Market Street, this clock was more than just a timepiece - it was a vital part of everyday life when personal watches weren’t commonplace. Banks of the time often installed clocks like this to help the community keep track of time. The clock’s Art Deco glasswork, its yellow owl face, and its copper details add to its historic charm. Though the clock has stopped working, it remains a cherished landmark that sparks conversations about Corning’s past and its once-thriving downtown.

Gastin's Goldsmith: Where History Meets Art
A stop at Gastin's Goldsmith gives a glimpse into Corning's tradition of craftsmanship. The shop specializes in transforming family heirlooms, such as grandma’s Pyrex or coral ware, into custom jewelry pieces. It's a beautiful example of Corning’s creative spirit - where history, glass, and personal stories are melded together in wearable art. Meghan herself sports a piece of history, wearing jewelry that reflects Corning’s legacy. For visitors interested in unique, locally made souvenirs, Gastin’s offers a rare chance to take home a piece of Corning’s artistic heritage.

The Glass Menagerie and Spiderman on the Wall
Quirky and fun, the Glass Menagerie store features an exterior that delights passersby with its whimsical glass sculptures and the unexpected sight of a Spiderman perched on the side of the building. This playful addition to the façade is the work of a local artist commissioned to create something that would stand out. Meghan shares that the installation is an example of how public art can bring a smile to your face and make art accessible in everyday life. Inside the shop, you’ll find an array of glass creations that pay homage to Corning’s reputation as the Crystal City, from intricate glass animals to functional glassware.

Glass, Innovation, and the Little Joe Tower
No tour of Corning would be complete without a deep dive into its glass-making legacy. From its humble beginnings as the Brooklyn Flint Glass Works, Corning grew to become the “Crystal City,” a hub of glass innovation.


Little Joe Tower and the Legacy of Innovation
Corning is perhaps best known for its groundbreaking glassmaking innovations, and no landmark embodies this legacy better than the Little Joe Thermometer Draw Tower. Erected in 1912, the tower revolutionized glass tubing production with its vertical draw process, forever changing the way thermometers were made. The tower stands tall as a monument to the town’s glassmaking heritage, a testament to Corning’s leadership in the glass industry. Affectionately known as Little Joe, the blue gaffer symbol painted at the top honors the master glassblowers who helped build the industry. Meghan’s enthusiasm is contagious as she explains how the tower and Corning’s glass innovations played a pivotal role in everything from early light bulbs to modern fiber optics.


The Arch and the Time Capsule: A Celebration of Corning's Legacy
One of the most symbolic structures on Market Street is the arch, which commemorates Corning’s rich history and serves as a gateway to its future. This striking piece of architecture not only celebrates the town's glassmaking heritage but also embodies its forward-thinking spirit. Beneath the arch lies a time capsule, placed there during Corning’s 150th anniversary. The time capsule holds mementos and messages from the community, preserving a snapshot of life in Corning for future generations. Visitors are often drawn to the gleaming mosaic of glass embedded in the arch, a testament to Corning’s artistic and industrial achievements. This mosaic, crafted from pre-Steuben glass, reminds passersby of the town’s vibrant past and its ongoing connection to the art of glassmaking.


The Erastus Corning Tower: A Tribute to the Founder
Standing tall in the heart of Corning, the Erastus Corning Tower serves as a tribute to the city’s founder. Erected in 1893 by the Corning family, the tower boasts four faces and plays bells that echo throughout the town. Originally, it was a monument to the family's deep roots in Corning, symbolizing their influence on the town’s growth and prosperity. The tower has been moved and restored over the years, yet it remains a central piece of Market Street's landscape, connecting past and present for residents and visitors alike.

Corning’s Small-Town Charm
This walking tour of Market Street isn’t just about buildings and sculptures - it’s about the people who call Corning home. From Katherine Hepburn’s mother, a member of the Houghton family, to Tommy Hilfiger, who opened his first store in a building designed by HC Tuttle, Corning’s rich history is interwoven with its modern identity. And, as Meghan points out, it’s the town’s vibrant arts community and its commitment to preserving the past that make it truly special.

Plan Your Visit
Market Street in Corning, NY, is a must-see for anyone interested in history, art, and the charm of small-town America. Whether you're exploring the intricate brickwork, visiting the Rockwell Museum, or watching glassblowers at work, there’s something for everyone on this picturesque street. Don’t forget to look up - because, as the locals say, “look what we have!”



Special thanks to Meghan O’Toole and Explore Steuben for hosting our walking tour. All opinions are my own.

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