The Museum District

Creative Culture :: Excuisit Glass :: Timeless History

Tacoma has truly transformed itself with the rapid emergence of a dramatic "Museum District" in the heart of downtown. Here three major museums now form an impressive triangle – the Tacoma Art Museum, the Museum of Glass, and the Washington State History Museum. Linking them is the spectacular Chihuly Bridge of Glass and historic Union Station, also filled with Chihuly art. The three museums are an easy, one-block walk from each other.

The Tacoma Art Museum is host to a permanent display of remarkable glass art by Tacoma native and world-renowned artist Dale Chihuly. The museum displays a large retrospective collection of Chihuly's early work on continuous view, as well as many other Northwest artists and traveling exhibits throughout the year.

The Museum of Glass dominates the Museum District skyline with its 90-foot tall, angled silver cone housing a working Hot Shop amphitheater. Here you can watch skilled artisans create with molten glass – and perhaps buy a piece later in the gift shop. The museum's three galleries feature exhibits of many forms of glass art and contemporary art.

The Chihuly Bridge of Glass, a 500-foot long, pedestrian walkway, connects the Museum of Glass to the Washington State History Museum's plaza. The bridge contains three displays of Chihuly glass art, creating a free outdoor "museum." Next door, historic, restored Union Station also boasts a free Chihuly glass display in its rotunda, including a dramatic chandelier containing 600 glass forms and the famous "Monarch" window.

The Washington State History Museum tells the stories of the people, places and industries that have shaped our state – from the first Native Americans to the present. It features interactive exhibits, high-tech displays and historical artifacts, plus a fun History Lab just for kids.