Museum of Glass — Attraction in Tacoma

Tacoma Museum of Glass Located in the heart of Tacoma, Washington, the Tacoma Museum of Glass is a world-renowned institution dedicated to the celebration and exploration of glass art. This architectural marvel, designed by Arthur Erickson, has become a landmark in the city and a must-visit destination for art enthusiasts and tourists alike.

The museum showcases a wide range of glass artworks, from ancient Roman glass to contemporary pieces by renowned artists. Visitors can explore the galleries and marvel at the intricate details and vibrant colors of the glass objects on display. The museum also offers a variety of interactive exhibits that allow visitors to learn about the history and techniques of glassmaking.

One of the highlights of the museum is the Hot Shop, where visitors can watch skilled glassblowers create stunning works of art in real time. The Hot Shop is a unique and exciting experience that allows visitors to see the artistry and craftsmanship that goes into creating glass objects.

In addition to the permanent collection, the Tacoma Museum of Glass also hosts a variety of temporary exhibitions featuring the work of both established and emerging glass artists. These exhibitions provide visitors with the opportunity to see the latest trends and innovations in the field of glass art.

The museum is also home to the Chihuly Bridge of Glass, a pedestrian bridge that connects the museum to the city's historic Union Station. The bridge is adorned with colorful glass sculptures by Dale Chihuly, one of the most famous glass artists in the world. The Chihuly Bridge of Glass is a popular spot for photos and offers stunning views of the city and the Puget Sound.

The Tacoma Museum of Glass is a place where art, education, and community come together. The museum offers a variety of educational programs for people of all ages, including workshops, classes, and lectures. The museum also hosts a variety of events throughout the year, such as festivals, concerts, and...

I’m a Dale Chihuly fanatic — I will go anywhere to see his work on display. So when I learned there was a Chihuly exhibition in the Museum of Glass, as well as the Bridge of Glass outside the museum with three Chihuly glass installations, I didn’t think twice about paying the museum a visit.

The first thing that piqued my interest was the Ikebana exhibition in the main lobby. Ikebana is the traditional Japanese art of flower arranging. Unlike Western floral design, which focuses on fullness and color, ikebana follows a more minimalist approach, using line, space, and asymmetry to create a sense of movement and natural beauty. For this exhibition, the Museum of Glass collaborated with Ikebana International by selecting glass objects from the museum’s permanent collection to serve as vessels for the flower arrangements. I loved learning about ikebana, and seeing beautiful floral arrangements in harmony with glass.

The second exhibition that captured my attention was the one displaying the works of Maestro Lino Tagliapietra. I will admit, before my visit to this museum, I didn’t know much about glass artists besides Chihuly, so getting to learn about another master of the medium was a treat. Tagliapietra’s work is truly breathtaking, with his bold use of color and intricate designs that seem impossible to achieve with glass. His exhibition is a must-see!

Chihuly’s large-scale glass-blown sculptures were breathtaking as expected, and don’t forget to check out the Bridge of Glass outside the museum.

There's also a hot shop amphitheater with live glass blowing demonstrations every day the museum is open. Tagliapietra himself has apparently visited the museum on multiple occasions to give demonstrations in the hot shop, which sounds incredible. The museum has a schedule of visiting artists which you can check out online.

Parking was easy — they have a big garage under the museum. The museum also has bag check available if you want to leave a bag (or even a suitcase) at...

In early July, we had the pleasure of hosting our wedding at the Museum of Glass Tacoma. It was an experience we will never forget and the best decision we made by far (aside from getting married). The museum itself is beautiful, filled with stunning glass artwork (some rotating artwork and some permanent, so be sure to find out which is which) and offering spectacular views of Mt. Rainer and the waterway (there are too many photo locations to count). Once all the rentals, flowers and other décor is in, it’s elevated. The Museum of Glass Tacoma itself was an added touch to our wedding. It’s versatile and we ended up using 3 of the 4 available areas for our wedding. The panoramic views of the skyline and waterfront served as a beautiful backdrop for our ceremony and photos. But what truly took our day to the next level was the exceptional service provided by John, and his dedicated events team.

John was a driving force behind our perfect day. He treated our wedding personally. He was committed to delivering a flawless event for us. I also want to call out the events team at the museum. They were all invested in making the day unforgettable. Even in the few days before our wedding ensuring the museum was pressure washed clean! Every one of our details was taken care of; making the planning process stress-free and enjoyable. For any couple going through the planning phase, I can’t stress this enough -- finding vendors that take personal initiatives to close any small details you miss in the 2 million details you are already tracking is gold.

We 100% recommend the Museum of Glass Tacoma to any couple seeking a beautiful and well-organized wedding venue. You’ll be in the...