Handcrafted History: The Duncan & Miller Glass Museum

In 1865, George Duncan initially purchased a glass company whose factory in Pittsburgh’s South Side neighborhood bordered the Monongahela River for easy transportation. Over the next 10 years, the company evolved and grew significantly and was eventually passed to George Duncan’s son, James E. Duncan, and experienced glass maker and designer John Ernest Miller.

In 1892, the company’s factory was destroyed by a fire, prompting Duncan to build a new factory on Jefferson Avenue in Washington, a location that had ample access to railroads and inexpensive natural gas to power the factory. By 1900, the company was officially formalized as the Duncan & Miller Glass Company known today.

Some of the company’s most popular styles were produced between the 1920s and the 1940s, with its Nautical, Hobnail, Caribbean and Teardrop styles at the forefront as pinnacles of modern design. These styles often encompassed a unique range of frosting, etching, engraving, coloring, enamel and more incorporated into a single handmade design. Duncan & Miller’s most iconic piece, however, is its signature swan – a work of art that took over 10 craftsmen to make. 

At its height, Duncan & Miller Glass was regarded as the “loveliest glass in America,” with each handmade piece sometimes requiring up to 14 skilled craftsmen to make. The company evolved with the times, creating highly detailed and intricate pieces during the Gilded Era, modern and cheerful Art Deco pieces during the Great Depression, and more everyday use pieces during the post-World War II era. Pieces came in both clear glass and a vast rainbow of colors that often reflected the changes in dining trends and design.  

By the 1950s, the emergence of automated glassmaking machinery and assembly lines had made Duncan & Miller's handmade glass uneconomical. The company began selling off its remaining inventory, molds and equipment to various other companies and collectors, eventually closing the Washington factory in 1955 after almost 90 years in business.  

It has been nearly 70 years since the Duncan & Miller Glass Company closed its factory doors, but the name has hardly been forgotten in Washington County and beyond.

The Duncan & Miller Glass Museum – the largest collection of Duncan & Miller Glass in the world – opened in downtown Washington (not far from the old factory site) in 1993 with the goal of preserving the legacy of the Duncan & Miller Glass Co. With thousands of handmade and unique pieces in its collection, visitors can easily spend an entire afternoon lost in time at the museum as they explore the history of our region’s industrial heritage.

The museum also plays a larger role in telling the story of not only Washington County’s industrial legacy, but the county as a hub for artisans and craftsmen of the past who dedicated their livelihoods to the furthering of art and industry. Visitors can get a sense of the work that went into these pieces and the impact Duncan & Miller glass had on the region either through guided tours or simply by browsing the museum on their own.

In addition to the museum, the National Duncan Glass Society hosts several glass shows and sales each year at the Washington County Fairgrounds, which feature antique and collectibles vendors from all over the country, educational programs, exhibits and demonstrations related to its antiques and collectibles.

The National Duncan Glass Society is celebrating a landmark year in 2025 as it marks its 50th anniversary of preserving the legacy of Duncan & Miller Glass. This milestone also honors the dedication and hard work of its members and volunteers over the past five decades. The occasion will be commemorated on March 22, 2025 with a Golden Anniversary Gala at the George Washington Hotel, featuring an evening of music, dancing, professional portrait photography, and an auction with tickets to “The Wizard of Oz” donated by the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre that will help kick off another 50 years of success and growth for the society.