His illustrious career and extensive ceramics collection compromise the foundation of the museum bearing his name. Today, Dr. Purdy's endowment has grown to a museum with a collection of more than 2,000 pieces representing a cross section of traditional and high-tech ceramics produced in the last 150 years. The museum displays a portion of the collection at any one time, featuring fine pottery, glassworks, and elaborate art forms by noted American ceramists. Advanced or high-tech ceramics have revolutionized many aspects of business and industry because of their unique characteristics.
Ceramics can be hard yet lightweight, with the ability to be heat, wear, and corrosion resistant.
High-tech ceramics on display include space shuttle tiles, a working automotive engine, military armor, and even sporting goods. Examples of bioceramics on display include a ceramic heart valve, hip joint implants, replacement bones for the middle ear, and dental implants. The World's Largest Crystal Ball sits proudly in the museum's lobby area. It is made from precision optical glass which is mainly drawn into optical fibers. The crystal ball has a 573 mm diameter and weighs 700 pounds.