Glass - the First Industry
In 1607 English settlers established the first successful colony in Jamestown, Virginia.
They brought with them glass artisans in anticipation of starting a glass business to help
pay for their voyage. According to recorded history, construction of a furnace started
in 1607, and in 1608 produced glass, the first industry in America.

Since that time, hundreds of glass companies have contributed every kind of glass
imaginable and employed thousands of workers, enriched our culture, and provided a
creative outlet for artists, designers, chemists and business entrepreneurs. Who has not
heard of Tiffany or Steuben art glass? In the 20th Century, Fostoria, Heisey, Imperial,
Tiffin, Duncan and Miller, and a host of others created mass produced, hand-finished
glass to set elegant tables. Machine made Depression glass brightened the lives of
countless Americans in the 1930s.

Today, although glass is used extensively in manufacturing , i.e. window glass, fiber
optics and the like, with few exceptions, the large art glass and tableware companies are
gone.

The following articles on American Handmade Glass were written by Milbra Long
for Antiques and Collectibles magazine in 1987.

Article 1 - Boston and Sandwich Glass

Article 2 - Revolutionary Boost

Article 3 - Civil War

Article 4 - Turn of the Century

Article 5 - Peachblow and Burmese

Article 6 - Chemical Breakthroughs