The World's Largest Beach Glass Is At The Ashtabula Maritime & Surface Transportation Museum - Not Too Far From Cleveland
By Nikki Rhoades|Published April 13, 2020
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Nikki Rhoades
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Nikki is a lifelong Ohioan with a love for literature. She holds a Bachelor's Degree from the University of Akron and has enjoyed publishing her written work since 2007. She has a love of travel and does so frequently, though she believes that home is where the heart is — she continues to work in and around Cleveland as a digital content specialist to this day, working on everything from commercial scripts and social media posts to grassroots marketing initiatives.
Believe it or not, Ohio is home to the largest piece of beach glass in the world. Not only was it found here, but it has made a permanent home in a museum about an hour away from Cleveland. In this museum, visitors will gain insight into the importance of the Great Lakes in maritime trade and will get a taste of what a lighthouse keeper’s lifestyle might have looked like a century ago. Though this museum is fairly modest in size, it belongs on every Ohioans’ bucket list. Its collections are incredible!
Beach glass and sea glass can be found on shores all over the world, offering people of all ages opportunities to embark on a treasure hunt.
Beach glass forms when shards of broken glass are naturally frosted by the weathering processes involved with moving water. Many people collect it, as it comes in every color of the rainbow. Each and every piece is unique.
The largest piece of beach glass in the world, believe it or not, was found (and has made a permanent home in) Ohio.
Prior to 2017, the largest piece of beach glass in the world weighed in at five pounds. This monster, however, is 275 pounds. It was found at an Ashtabula County beach.
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That giant 275-pound piece of glass now permanently lives in the Ashtabula Maritime & Surface Transportation Museum, a fascinating landmark in Ashtabula Harbor, Ohio.
The Ashtabula Maritime & Surface Transportation Museum is housed in a building that formerly served as home to lighthouse keepers and the Coast Guard chief. The home dates back to 1871 and it is overflowing with incredible displays and pieces of history.
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This museum, which was established in 1984, opens to the public each Memorial Day through September, although private tours are available by appointment year-round.
Admission is just a few dollars per person during their regular season, but there's nothing more rewarding than planning a private tour for a group of 10 or more.
In addition to enjoying incredible views of the local lighthouse and working coal dock, you'll find all sorts of displays and historical artifacts inside this one-of-a-kind museum.
You'll find petite displays, and you'll find massive ones like the six-foot-long Titanic replica. You'll also come face-to-face with fascinating objects like the famously large beach glass chunk and Coast Guard memorabilia.
Check out a scale model of a Hulett ore unloader and gain insight into the history of both the Great Lakes and local events like the Ashtabula Train Disaster.
The Ashtabula Train Disaster has become something of a local legend, though it is an actual event that took place in this area. On December 29, 1876, two trains carrying 159 passengers fell from a collapsing bridge into the unforgiving waters of the river below. Of the passengers on board, 92 died. The event resulted in state legislature drafting a bill to regulate and inspect bridge design, although they never acted on it.
You learn something new with every visit to this unique historic home.
Keep your eyes peeled for upcoming events and connect with the museum on Facebook to ensure it stays on your radar. This is one super cool museum you will want to check out!
So there you have it! The largest piece of beach glass in the world is hiding in a fascinating Ohio museum, but that's no reason to end your own treasure hunt.
There may be an even larger chunk of beach or sea glass out there awaiting discovery, and you just might be the person to stumble upon it. Don't pass up your chance to stroll the shores of Lake Erie... you truly never know what you'll find.
Who knew that the largest piece of beach glass in the world is in Ohio? This museum puts a lot into perspective, especially when it comes to the role Lake Erie plays in local life. Have you ever visited the Ashtabula Maritime & Surface Transportation Museum? Tell us about your experience in the comments!
Can’t get enough of Lake Erie history? Check out these local shipwrecks hiding just out of sight.
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