Things To Do In Tacoma

Tacoma Art Museum, Tacoma WA

Established in 1964, the Tacoma Art Museum (TAM) is one of the top places to see in Tacoma, Washington. It stands as one of the most prominent art sources in the Pacific Northwest and greater western region and has strong community roots. It supports the museum district and university in the downtown area and serves the communities through its learning programs and exhibitions. The museum’s collection comprises more than 5000 pieces of artwork, which includes the largest retroactive glass collection by Tacoma native Dale Chihuly.

The Tacoma Art Museum was initially the Tacoma Art League, which was more of a casual gathering that started in 1891. It later changed to the Tacoma Art Society in the 1930s before finally becoming the museum in 1964.

Interesting Facts about Tacoma Art Museum

• The museum houses the largest collection of studio art jewelry by local Northwest artisans
•  Its collection includes more than 120 art pieces from the Washington Art Consortium
•  Major holdings of the 19th century European and 20th-century American art
• Tacoma Museum of Art also has one of the best Japanese woodblock collections on the entire West Coast
• 225 art pieces of the Benaroya Collection are also included, which contain paintings, sculptures, and art glass
• The Haub Family Collection is also part of TAM. It contains 300 collection pieces that were completed over a period of two centuries.

In November of 2014, the museum opened its doors to the first exhibition provided by the Haub Family Collection of Western American Art. This was the very first private collection of western American art that became available to the public in a long time. The collection presents brilliant work by master artists from the 1970s till the present date, with renowned artisans like Thomas Moran, Gilbert Stuart, and Bill Schneck. This collection sets TAM apart from other museums in the Northwest.

In January of 2016, the museum achieved another important milestone: opening the Rebecca and Jack Benaroya Collection exhibit. The artwork of the Benaroyas that was collected and carefully put together over 70 years was added to the collection. This includes international and northwestern studio art glass as well as other sculptures and paintings from other artists. The gift also promises a contribution to the construction of a brand new 7390 sq. ft. gallery that will be added to the current collection. In 2019, award-winning architect Tom Kundig designed the museum’s New Wing.

When visiting Tacoma, make sure to check out the famous Tacoma Art Museum. It is an excellent point of interest where you can dowse in your love for art, and also educate your children. TAM offers a wide array of art galleries that you can explore while basking in its placid light-filled design. You can also shop around for art pieces to take home, indulge in art-making, and can even grab a bite to eat. The Museum Café is worth stopping at, and the museum gift shop allows you to buy both high-end and reasonably priced gifts to take as souvenirs. If you wish to get involved in the process of art-making yourself, you can also take part in the artists’ Workshop and test your own talent.

 

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Next Thing To Do In Tacoma:

Mount Rainier National Park

 

 

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Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium, Tacoma

Located in Tacoma, the Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium (PDZA) is the only combined aquarium and zoo in all of the Pacific Northwest. Sprawled over 29 acres, the zoological park was built in 1905 and welcomes around 70,000 visitors each year. The Association of Zoos and Aquariums nationally recognized the PDZA, which translates to quality animal welfare, education, conservation, and more.

The zoo consists of a 700-acre park that offers a breathtaking view of Mount Rainier and the Olympic Mountains.

In the 1960s, the Point Defiance Park Aquarium also incorporated a zoo. In 1963, a new aquarium called the North Pacific Aquarium was built but was later replaced in 2018 with Pacific Seas Aquarium. Once you enter the facility, you can witness a range of exhibitions that PDZA has to offer. The zoo’s theme is diverse, featuring ecosystems from the Pacific Rim, the Pacific Northwest, the tundra, Southeast Asia, as well as aquatic habitats.

Asian Forest Sanctuary

If you are all about the lush green trees and an exotic experience, the Asian Forest Sanctuary is a must-visit. This 5-acre land of lush bamboo jungles, sparkling waterfalls, and mysterious animals from different habitats will keep you fully immersed and impressed. The complex is constructed in a way that different species of animals can rotate in different parts of the exhibition each day. You can expect to find an Asian elephant, siamangs, and Sumatran tigers.

Rocky Shores

If you are fond of aqua creatures or the beach, then you will surely enjoy a visit to the Rocky Shores. The shoreline exhibits various seabirds, sea lions, otters, and seals as they go about their day. There is also a building perched in the center of the exhibition area where you can indulge in underwater viewing.

Eye-to-Eye Shark Dive

For a once in a lifetime experience of diving up-close to gigantic sharks, this activity is perfect. You can face your fears as well as learn about the biology and conservation of sharks in the wild.

Aquariums

PDZA has two main aquariums called the South Pacific Aquarium and the Pacific Seas Aquarium. Each of these contains aquatic species from various parts of the Pacific Ocean. These include green sea turtles, big sharks, scalloped hammerheads, tropical fish, and spotted eagle rays. In Pacific Seas Aquarium, you can also find beautiful art and a jelly globe. On the other hand, the Pacific Seas Aquarium contains a tropical lagoon, a blue hole, and a stingray cave. It is an oasis of warm-water aquatic habitat, which includes flamboyant fish, stingrays, and breathtaking sharks.

Red Wolf Woods

The Red Wolf Woods is a habitat containing two different meadows with a hollow log, a rock-strewn creek, and other mesmerizing landscaping. The red wolves woods is also part of PDZA’s prize-winning program that is dedicated to saving species from becoming extinct.

Kids’ Zone

If you are visiting the park with your kids, make sure to take them to the Kids’ zone. There, they can see the lemurs swing, fish wiggle, and wallabies hop. There is also a playground where children can play with nearby animals.

 

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Next Thing To Do In Tacoma:

Tacoma Art Museum

 

 

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Museum of Glass in Tacoma, WA

One of the most intriguing attractions in Tacoma, WA, is the Museum of Glass. This museum has been open since 1988, and it showcases many different collections, including an exhibit about glass art from around the world. There are also interactive exhibits that allow visitors to participate in blowing glass or designing their pieces. It’s a perfect place for families, artists, or anyone looking to learn more about the history of one of our most valuable inventions, glass.

The Museum of Glass opened in 2002. The museum is home to three galleries, one for the Hot Shop (where glassblowing demonstrations are held), another for rotating exhibits, and a third called Reflections atrium that holds art-glass displays from many well-known artists. The museum also has an events center, gift shop, and cafe with outside seating on sunny days. There’s always something interesting happening here!

There’s a lot to see and do here. There are always new events happening, from classes for adults and kids through lectures by world-famous artists! You can even sign up for private glassblowing lessons if you’re interested in learning how to work with molten glass yourself.

About the Museum of Glass

The Museum of Glass in Tacoma, WA, is an art museum with a glass collection. It has permanent exhibits on glass artists and their work, galleries for both traveling exhibitions and the museum’s collections, plus special events throughout the year that are open to visitors.

Museum of Glass was established in 1971 by New Zealand-born artist Dale Chihuly who wanted to create a center dedicated solely to contemporary glass art. Today it houses more than 50 works from his collection, including rare vintage Murano pieces dating back centuries and some of his most recent designs made especially for this facility which opened its doors officially in 2002. The building itself is worth seeing since it features three large skylights explicitly designed around the idea of bringing natural light into the galleries.

Museum of Glass is one of Tacoma’s most popular attractions; visitors reviews are overwhelmingly positive, with everyone saying that it offers a great experience to those who appreciate glass art as well as those who don’t know much about such things but wish to learn more or see some beautiful pieces on display. The building itself has received numerous awards for its innovative design, including two sizeable open atrium spaces, an enclosed courtyard featuring contemporary sculptures, and interactive areas like “Chihuly Garden Court.” This exhibit features over 20 installation works in addition to various other exhibitions throughout the year. Some recent shows include: ‘Queen City Jubilee,’ ‘Glass Now’ and many others. There is also a gift shop where visitors can purchase items related to glass art and the museum.

Facts about the Museum of Glass 

– The original Museum of Glass was a collection of artists working with glass. It opened in 1961 and closed in 1978 but reopened again as the current Museum of Glass in 2002.

– There are four “major” galleries at MOg: Hot Shop (where you can watch them make art!), Art from Fire (the gallery that showcases their most famous pieces), Creative Catalyst (works by teachers/lecturers), and Hot Shop Studio Store & Cafe where they sell all sorts of fun stuff!

– The MOg has many programs and classes for visitors, including Family Art Projects (includes kid-friendly art projects), Drop-In Drawing Workshop, Glassblowing Fundamentals Class, Torch Time Open Studio Sessions, and more!

– You can even spend the night in “Hotel 1000,” a fantastic hotel with contemporary decor. It’s only five minutes from Tacoma Dome by free shuttle bus, so you don’t have to drive after all that fun at the museum!

– MOg in Tacoma has one of the world’s largest hot glass studios. They also have a great collection of contemporary art with over 15,000 pieces that include works by master artists like Dale Chihuly and Ed Corney!

– MOg has been recognized as “one of America’s Top Ten Museums” by Art & Design Magazine and as having “the world’s finest collection of contemporary glass art.” Not too shabby, considering they only opened again in 2002 after the original closed over 30 years ago!

– The Museum of Glass in Tacoma, WA, is genuinely a fantastic place to spend the day, no matter who you are! There’s something for everyone at MOg and not just with glass art either. You can explore other kinds of art too like paint or even film! It has a little bit of everything, so your entire family will have fun when you visit this museum that features work by artists from around the world.

What to See in Museum of Glass?

• Spherical panoramas are created by glass artists working simultaneously on opposite sides of a rotating, round chamber called a dome. The result is an image that changes as you circle it to reveal 360 degrees in all directions. These images can be viewed from outside through high-resolution fiber optic cables installed by technicians who have entered the dome space through hidden entry points above each sphere’s apex located within its hemispherical ceiling or “cupola” and connected their computer workstation back into the cable’s final destination which allows anyone standing anywhere along Tacoma Avenue South to view these fantastic spherical panoramas free of charge.
• Permanent installations include the “Oblique Rainforest” by Dale Chihuly, a sculptural forest of towering glass trees – each reflecting light in a fantastic spectrum of colors; and the immersive space known as “the Hot Shop” where you can witness artisans at work creating this new generation of sculpture with molten glass. The Glass Studio is also open for visitors to watch artists working on their pieces available for purchase in the museum store.
• Installation art pieces include some familiar works created during our time at Pilchuck, such as Chihuly’s “Mille Fiori (A Thousand Flowers),” which consists of hundreds of individual glass flowers suspended like garlands from large metal rods creating an organic canopy over one section; and Peter Voulkos’s “The Big Red Way,” which is a massive red-hot piece of molten glass that was hand-spun into an obelisk-like shape.
• The Hot Shop is a glassblowing studio that offers daily demonstrations by master glass artists. Watch as artisans create pieces of functional fine art to be enjoyed for years to come. Our experienced staff will guide you through the process, explaining how works are created and provide insight into their inspiration.
• The museum shop is filled with glass artworks, books, and educational materials for kids. It also carries items made by local artists, which are great souvenirs to take home as gifts or mementos from your visit to the Northwest.
• You can also get to the museum via public transit by taking the light rail from Portland, Oregon, to Seattle, Washington. You will have about a 20-minute walk to reach the museum from either direction, but it is pretty straightforward and safe once you know where you are going, so don’t be afraid of getting lost en route!
• MOg in Tacoma is an excellent museum for kids and adults alike! It’s open from Wednesday to Sunday. Tickets are $5-$17 depending on if you’re an adult, senior, or student.

 

If you’re looking for a House Cleaning in Tacoma, you can book with us!

 

Next Thing To Do In Tacoma:

Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium

 

 

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