A national ranking has recognized what many Corning residents and visitors have long known – the Crystal City is a great place for food, drink, arts and entertainment.
USA TODAY announced a new round of 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards Wednesday, and Corning was honored for Best Small Town Cultural Scene.
Corning was among 20 small cities nominated for the award by an expert panel nationwide. Each locale needed a population of fewer than 25,000 people to be eligible.
“What each lacks in size, it makes up for in culture: museums, art galleries, performing arts, and plenty of events,” reads the contest description.
Voting closed Apri 1. Corning placed in the top-10 of the final tally, ranking No. 7 in the nation.
Why Corning has Best Small Town Cultural Scene
A big factor in Corning’s ranking was the presence of two “particularly prestigious” museums that thousands of visitors enjoy every year, the Corning Museum of Glass and The Rockwell Museum.
“Guests can marvel at more than 50,000 intricate artifacts and installations at the Corning Museum of Glass, while The Rockwell Museum has earned abundant acclaim thanks to its collection of historic American paintings, statues, and other works,” noted USA TODAY.
The ranking also highlighted Corning’s position just south of the Finger Lakes, with its abundant recreational opportunities, wineries and distilleries.
Corning’s Gaffer District, “a hub of artistic expression,” was cited as well.
