Tacoma Museum of Glass

Chihuly Bridge of Glass © Nilanjan Bhattacharya | Dreamstime

Tacoma’s Museum of Glass is easily recognizable from downtown. The large silver cone of the museum’s working glass hot shop brings a starkly moderntouch to this historic part of town. That cone is the first hint that something exciting is afoot here.

Walking towards the museum, visitors are greeted by the Chihuly Bridge of Glass. Crane your neck toward the covered walkway’s ceiling and take in the scores of brightly colored glass art reminiscent of coral and other sea life — with a Seussian twist. Outside the museum’s front doors sit two more outdoor installations: the Water Forest, with its glass columns and dancing water, and Fluent Steps, with islands of white glass suspended above the reflecting pool like whimsical ice bergs.

Tacoma Museum of Glass © Glenn Nagel | Dreamstime

Inside, there are always several visiting exhibitions featuring renowned glass artists from around the world. And the museum’s permanent collection houses 20^th – and 21^st-century pieces. But perhaps the most fascinating and worthwhile aspect of the permanent collection is the Kids Design Glass Collection, made up of endearing glass pieces inspired by kids’ drawings of made-up creatures like Pip! The Baby Monster. The original drawings and a brief story about the creature accompany the glass pieces.

Blowing Glass © Joyfuldesigns | Dreamstime

The museum’s working hot shop is the biggest draw. During museum hours, glass artists are hard at work inside the hot shop, blowing and pulling glass while an expert answers questions and narrates the activities.