SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2026,
OUR 30TH YEAR

Carousel in just one of Orlando’s 19 theme parks, pixels.com

Did anyone even know that there are at least 19 theme parks in Florida’s Orlando area? No wonder this city is best known as the theme park capital of the world.

Entrance to the Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art, Winter Park, FL

But right next door in Winter Park sits a huge treasure that offers another level of adventure - The Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art, informally known as The Tiffany Glass Museum. https://morsemuseum.org

	Louis Comfort Tiffany, 1848-1933		Opalescent hanging globe, blown glass, millefiori,  c. 1904-10
	Vase, gladiolus blown glass, c. 1909		Fountain vase, blown glass, 1903

Louis Comfort Tiffany (1848-1933), originally trained as a painter, became an interior designer, and eventually established his own glass-making firm in 1887 at 37. He had become fascinated by the chemistry of opalescence and registered a patent for this radical new treatment of glass. This opalescent glass technique, where the color was actually chemically part of the glass, supplanted the established tradition of applying enamel paint on clear glass and initially, was roundly rejected by traditionalists. Tiffany also established the technique called “Favrille,” blown-glass vases and bowls now widely recognized for iridescence and vivid colors.

	Leaded glass Spring panel from Four Seasons, window, c. 1899-1900		Leaded glass Summer panel from Four Seasons, window, c. 1899-1900
	Leaded glass Autumn panel from Four Seasons, window, c.1899-1900		Leaded glass Winter panel from Four Seasons, window, c. 1899-1900

	Necklace, peacock and flamingo, 1905-06		Detail of column capital, concrete with cut glass daffodils, c. 1892

	Library lamp, Cobweb design, shade, mosaic floral base, leaded glass mosaic, bronze, c. 1900		Library lamp, Dragonfly and water design, blue, cone shape, c. 1910		Library lamp. Wisteria design, lamp and shade, leaded glass, bronze, c.1901

The Morse Museum’s world-renowned collection of Tiffany’s art features many areas of his artistic expression including furniture, stained glass, lamps, chandeliers, mosaic work, jewelry, and architectural elements. Although his artwork was truly priceless, his personal fortune allowed him to sacrifice profits so that most everyone could afford his treasures.

	Tiffany Chapel interior, designed by Louis Tiffany for the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition		Detail of Tiffany Chapel glass mosaic alter wall or reredos
	Tiffany Chapel interior, Baptisery and Field of Lillies leaded-glass window, c. 1892		Tiffany Chapel leaded-glass window, the Story of the Cross, c.1892

	Loggia at Tiffany’s Laurelton Hall Estate, Long Island, NY, before the fire		Hugh F. McKean at Laurelton Hall surveying fire damage

The Morse Museum also includes pieces from the chapel Tiffany created for the 1893 Chicago Expo as well as many handpicked pieces from Tiffany’s home, Laurelton Hall, including paintings, windows, pottery, and so much more. Tragically, in 1957, his Laurelton Hall Estate, Long Island, NY, was gutted by a devastating fire. However, due to the philanthropic efforts of two admirers of Tiffany’s art, Hugh and Jeannette McKean, many of his treasures survived and have been carefully preserved and curated at Winter Park’s Morse Museum.

	Laurelton Hall, leaded-glass window, guilder rose and wisteria, c.1898		Laurelton Hall, leaded-glass window, pumpkin and beets, 1899-1900

For more information and links to videos about Tiffany and the Morse Museum collection, visit https://morsemuseum.org.

About the author:

Lynn Rosen is an Emmy award-winning TV broadcaster, producer and director, and has been on the Journalism and Theatre faculties at Western Washington University in Bellingham, Wash. She’s also a theater critic, travel writer, published author, fearless skier and belongs to the American Theatre Critics Association (ATCA) and the Society of American Travel Writers (SATW).