Downtown Tacoma

Tacoma’s downtown is its “art and soul,” and the place where visitors can see for themselves why Tacoma is one of Forbes’ 13 Art Trips You Need to Take. You can wander amongst world-class museums, or just take in all the public art, which includes Dale Chihuly glass installations seemingly around every corner: on artistic pedestrian bridges, in federal courthouses, and even in library study rooms. Shoppers will find trendy boutiques, thrift shops and antique stores, while foodies have options that run the gamut from white linen to greasy spoon.

Things to do in downtown Tacoma

The Museum District

Six world-class museums make up Tacoma’s Museum District, with subjects that span art, history, maritime and the automobile. Tacoma Art Museum’s focus on art of the American West, and work from Pacific Northwest artists. Museum of Glass not only showcases glass pieces from some of the biggest names in the field, it also contains a functioning hot shop, where visitors can watch glass artists ply their trade. America’s Car Museum is the largest car museum in North America, and takes visitors through every era of the automobile’s history via more than 300 collector vehicles on display. Washington State History Museum lets you meet the extraordinary people of Washington State through artifacts, interactive exhibitions and unique storytelling. The Children’s Museum of Tacoma is a pay-as-you-will experience that celebrates the power of play. The Foss Waterway Seaport Museum gives visitors a glimpse into Tacoma’s maritime past, present and future in a building that’s a part of that rich heritage.

Pacific Avenue

Just one afternoon stroll along Pacific Avenue and you’ll experience the city’s history while enjoying some of its most modern – and delicious – assets. Pacific Avenue is lined with restored, renovated and repurposed brick buildings from the late 19^th and early 20^th Centuries, most of which retain their original exposed brick walls, soaring ceilings and industrial atmosphere. It’s in these preserved buildings that Tacoma’s history comes to life.

The Theater District

The Theater District in downtown Tacoma is a district where a visitor can get a front-row seat to history. When “Tacoma was literally staggering under a boom of the boomiest” (Rudyard Kipling, 1889), more than a dozen theaters – mostly vaudeville – opened in quick succession. Of those, the Pantages Theater and The Rialto – both opened in 1918, and both since restored and serving as premiere venues for music and theater – are the two that still remain, and they were joined in 1993 by Theater on the Square.  

Downtown waterfront

Tacoma's downtown core glides nicely onto the downtown waterfront, marked by Dock Street museums, and the esplanade, a beautiful waterfront walkway with access to dining, parks and picnic areas, and kayak and paddle board rentals. To get to the waterfront by foot from downtown, cross either the Bridge of Glass, or the Murray Morgan bridge on 11th street, and take the glass elevator to dock street. 

Antique Row

A unique standout in downtown Tacoma is a section of Broadway that has come to be known as Antiques Row, due to the half-dozen sprawling, multi-level antique stores that line the street. Savoy Special Vintage, Sanford and Son, Tacoma Consignment, and Lily Pad Antiques are just a few of the stores where visitors can search for antiques, relics and forgotten treasures.

Downtown Itineraries