Fleming’s 1939 American film The Wizard of Oz is an early pioneer of the use of innovative techniques in camera work, music, visual and special effects in modern day movie production.  The musical-fantasy classic has also become a firm favorite among the American public and coupled with its influence in the film industry, it should be regarded as the most significant American film of all time.

Such is the high esteem in which Fleming’s 1939 classic The Wizard of Oz is held that curators have taken precautions to preserve this and other historically significant films from the deteriorating effects of age. Movies made before 1951 were recorded on nitrate film. Of course films are expected to fade and shrink as they get older, but nitrate paper adds an extra twist to the situation in that it is also extremely volatile. In fact, ignited nitrate paper produces its own oxygen – meaning that once ignited it is virtually impossible to extinguish the fire with water. History is rife with accounts of uncontrollable fires which have ravaged vast collections of movies recorded on nitrate paper. Exposure to heat, moisture or sharp fluctuations in temperature are also extremely damaging to these films. Thankfully though, proper steps are being taken to preserve these valuable pieces by storing them in specially designed frigid, low humidity vaults such as those in the Library of Congress and the George Eastman museum.

Dobbin, Ben. "Vaults protecting pre-1951 movies." Associated Press.(May 17, 2008).Associated Press. Findarticles.com, 1 Dec. 2008 .

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This museum is actually focused on celebrating and encouraging America's history of freedom and tolerence.

They are included as part of this tagging project because they hold a collection of over 100 pieces of art glass (intended to signify the fragility of liberty). The collection includes Dale Chihuly's 20 foot tall 'Flame of Liberty' and a 6 foot cast sculpture by Libensky and Brychtova.

One of the Liberty Museum's main supporters is the Coalition of Glass Collectors and Artists. The Coalition holds an annual weekend event, called Glass Now that includes an impressive auction of work by contemporary glass artists.

One of the few museums in the world focused entirely on glass.

CMOG also has work space and classes available at their studio. Course listings online at: Studio Course Schedule

Home of the Rakow Research Library -
"the world’s foremost library on the art and history of glass and glassmaking. Its mission is to acquire everything published on the subject of glass, in every format and in every language." Online reference requests at: Ask a Librarian

"The Museum of Glass is a fine arts museum dedicated to presenting glass in the context of contemporary art."

Check out the 'virtual hot shop' and make a virtual glass work of your own.

This new facility on the grounds of the Toledo Museum of Art contains both a museum of glass and a hot shop. Admission is FREE.

It was named Travel + Leisure's 2007 "Best Museum".

The Wheaton Arts and Cultural Center is the home of the Museum of American Glass and the Creative Glass Center of America .

The Glass Center is the sponsor of the biennial 'Glass Weekend' an International Symposium and Exhibition of Contemporary Glass (held in July of odd numbered years).

Wheaton Arts and Cultural Center also offers classes and exhibits on other crafts and sponsors specialty craft shows and sales throughout the year.