Glass House Adding More Tours

The Philip Johnson Glass House in New Canaan, New York, has been such a popular destination that tours quickly sold out when it first opened. This year was no exception and as soon as tours were announced, they again were sold out for the entire season and many people who were unable to obtain tickets were disappointed. Because of this demand, the staff at Glass House looked carefully at the schedule and are able to add one more tour each day without compromising the visitor’s experience or neighborhood ambiance. But be warned: when word gets out, they’ll sell quickly, so here’s my recommended strategy:

• Mark your calendar for 9 am on May 1, 2008. That’s when tickets go on sale—no earlier.
• Have your preferred dates ready along with some alternative dates. The more flexible you are, the more likely you will snag some tickets.
• Keep your group size small. Tours are limited to less than a dozen people, so buying a group of 8 tickets for the same tour time will be much more difficult than buying just a couple.
• Know that tickets are sold on a first-come, first-served basis. There’s no preference for NTHP members, Connecticut residents, fans of Philip Johnson, my friends, etc. The earlier you jump in, the better your chances for obtaining tickets for your preferred date. NTHP members receive a discount, but you pay full price upon purchase and receive a refund when you arrive at the Visitor Center (with 270,000 members, we can’t identify an eligible dues-paying member quickly enough but will someday!).
• Use the phone or Internet. Tickets may only be purchased online at www.philipjohnsonglasshouse.org or by calling (866) 811-4111 (not through the National Trust nor in person, and not before May 1).

If you missed out on this opportunity and you really need to see the Glass House, you can arrange for your own private tour for $500 per person. Visit http://philipjohnsonglasshouse.org/visit/ for more details.