Tacoma Art Museum - Tacoma, Washington - Northwest Art Exhibits and Chihuly Glass

The Tacoma Art Museum serves the urban city of Tacoma with a fine Northwest collection of art, exhibits, learning and education programs with an emphasis on artists from the local area and surrounding region. The museum's collection contains more than 3,400 works. Although the emphasis is on Northwest art, a fine collection of Japanese woodblock prints and collections of glass art from Dale Chihuly are also exhibited. There are also collections on view portraying 19th century European and 20th century American art.

Parking is available beneath the building in the numbered spaces marked with yellow lines. There are stairs and an elevator from the parking lot to the museum. There are a limited number of accessible parking spaces available on a first-come, first-served basis. Parking must be pre-paid before entering the museum at a rate of $2 per hour or an all-day rate of $12 for up to ten hours. Public transportation to and from the museum is also available. The Tacoma Link Light Rail stops within walking distance of the museum. Visitors may also arrive at the museum by boat. The Dock Street Marina is located conveniently in the front of the Museum of Glass on Dock Street. Guests of the museum may park their boat at the marina at docks G and H.

The museum contains a museum store that provides an assortment of unique gift and craft items. From fine jewelry, to extensive book selections, the museum store has something to suit every personality. If visitors are looking to add new dycor to their home, the Chihuly Studio offers exclusive pieces of glass work and lithographs. Jewelry lines and home dycor changes routinely.

School tours and workshops can be found at the museum. Students are able to understand and explore how art relates to their own lives and experiences. The museum draws both students and teachers from all over the northwest. A hands-on studio is popular with museum guests and provides opportunities for visitors of all ages to get involved in making projects. Each month a new artist is invited to lead one of the hands-on events or workshops. The workshops are diversified in age from senior citizens to school age children.

The Tacoma Art Museum offers a continental breakfast every Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. in the Workz Cafy. Sandwiches and desserts are offered at lunchtime and limited seating is available. Visitors with groups of more than ten people are recommended to make reservations. The Workz Cafy is managed by Jonz Catering which is the exclusive caterer for all private events at Tacoma Arts Museum.

Lodging accommodations surrounding the museum include Hotel Murano and the Courtyard by Marriott Downtown Tacoma. The Hotel Murano takes some of the museum home with them as they house a superb glass collection in their hotel lobby. This hotel is known as the world's first glass-themed hotel.

The Tacoma Art Museum celebrates its 75th anniversary in the year 2010. The momentous occasion is in the works and promises to produce an awe-inspiring event.